Now that is a good question.
Bull, between the two cartridges you mention I am tempted to go with the 30-06. That bad boy has the knock down power necessary to dispatch game cleanly and humanely. However, I believe that it is dependent upon the hunter’s relationship to recoil that determines the cartridge they should use. We are all built differently and can take different amounts of punishment. If you can handle the recoil of a large bore–flat shooting rifle without flinching then use that cannon. If however, you know that you might flinch when using a big bore then you owe it to the animal you are hunting to use a less powerful cartridge and to get significantly closer before you shoot. If you can’t put ten rounds into a 300 meter 8” bull without flinching on the last few rounds then it is time to go down a notch in power. The smallest load I would use for big game would be 7mm magnum.
Yours truly shoots a .308 Win 185 grain Nosler boat tail for the big 'uns loaded hot. The recoil is around 26 Newtons. The recoil is so high because the gun is so light. Less than 6 lbs. It is a lightened Enfield Mark 4 Carbine. With significant relief cuts and a special stock. It knocks the lights out of most things bear sized and on down.
Also practice at different distances - Know your rifle-cartidge combination. Practice will ensure a clean kill in nearly all situations. I hope this helped.
Shoot what you can – can what you shoot.
See the recoil chart below
Cartridge (Wb@MV) Rifle Weight Recoil energy Recoil velocity
.17 HMR (17 at 2550) 7.5 0.2 n/a
.22 LR (40 at 1165) 4.0 0.2 n/a
.22 WMR (40 at 1910) 6.75 0.4 n/a
.22 Hornet (45 at 2800) 7.5 1.3 3.3
.222 Rem. (50 at 3200) 7.5 3.0 5.1
.222 Rem. Mag. (55 at 3200) 8.5 3.3 n/a
.223 Rem. (55 at 3200) 7.0 4.1 n/a
.223 Rem. (55 at 3200) 8.0 3.0 5.0
.223 Rem. (62 at 3025) 7.0 4.4 n/a
.22-250 Rem. (55 at 3600) 8.5 4.7 6.0
.220 Swift (55 at 3700) 8.5 4.6 n/a
5.6x50 Mag. (60 at 3300) 7.5 4.0 5.9
5.6x52R (70 at 2800) 7.5 3.7 5.7
5.6x57 RWS (60 at 3800) 7.5 6.9 7.7
6mm PPC (85 at 2800) 7.5 5.3 n/a
6mm-223 (75 at 2950) 7.5 4.6 n/a
.243 Win. (75 at 3400) 8.0 7.9 8.0
.243 Win. (85 at 3200) 7.5 9.1 n/a
.243 Win. (95 at 3100) 7.25 9.4 n/a
.243 Win. (100 at 2960) 7.25 10.2 9.5
.243 Win. (100 at 2960) 8.0 8.4 n/a
6mm Rem. (75 at 3500) 8.0 8.1 8.1
6mm Rem. (85 at 3325) 7.5 10.0 n/a
6mm Rem. (100 at 3100) 8.0 10.0 9.0
6mm Rem. (100 at 3100) 9.0 8.9 n/a
.240 Wby. Mag. (87 at 3500) 7.5 11.7 10.0
.240 Wby. Mag. (90 at 3500) 8.0 10.8 9.3
.240 Wby. Mag. (100 at 3400) 9.0 10.6 8.7
.25-20 Win. (86 at 1750) 6.5 2.0 n/a
.25-35 Win. (117 at 2300) 7.0 6.3 7.6
.250 Sav. (87 at 3000) 7.5 7.8 n/a
.257 Rob. (100 at 3000) 7.5 9.3 8.9
.257 Rob. (117 at 2650) 8.0 9.0 n/a
.25-06 Rem. (75 at 3600) 8.5 9.2 n/a
.25-06 Rem. (100 at 3230) 8.0 11.0 9.4
.25-06 Rem. (120 at 3000) 8.0 12.5 10.0
.257 Wby. Mag. (100 at 3600) 9.5 12.9 9.4
.257 Wby. Mag. (117 at 3335) 9.5 16.1 n/a
.257 Wby. Mag. (120 at 3200) 9.5 13.6 9.6
.257 Wby. Mag. (120 at 3300) 9.5 14.7 10.0
6.5x50 Arisaka (140 at 2600) 8.0 10.0 n/a
6.5x52 M-C (140 at 2200) 8.0 7.8 n/a
6.5x54 M-S (140 at 2400) 7.5 11.1 9.7
6.5x55 Swede (129 at 2750) 7.5 11.9 n/a
6.5x55 Swede (140 at 2645) 8.0 11.0 9.4
6.5x57 (129 at 2800) 8.0 12.1 n/a
6.5x57 (140 at 2700) 8.0 12.5 10.0
.260 Rem. (120 at 2890) 7.5 10.9 n/a
.260 Rem. (129 at 2850) 7.5 12.8 n/a
.260 Rem. (140 at 2750) 7.5 13.6 10.8
6.5mm Rem. Mag. (120 at 3100) 7.5 16.8 n/a
6.5mm Rem. Mag. (140 at 2900) 8.0 14.7 10.9
6.5x68S (120 at 3300) 8.0 17.7 n/a
6.5x68S (140 at 2990) 8.5 16.8 11.3
.264 Win. Mag. (129 at 3300) 8.5 18.2 n/a
.264 Win. Mag. (140 at 3200) 8.5 19.2 12.1
.270 Win. (130 at 3140) 8.0 16.5 n/a
.270 Win. (140 at 3000) 8.0 17.1 11.7
.270 Win. (150 at 2900) 8.0 17.0 11.7
.270 WSM (130 at 3235) 8.0 17.5 n/a
.270 WSM (140 at 3135) 8.0 20.5 n/a
.270 Wby. Mag. (130 at 3300) 9.5 16.0 10.4
.270 Wby. Mag. (140 at 3300) 8.5 26.6 n/a
.270 Wby. Mag. (150 at 3245) 9.5 20.9 n/a
7-30 Waters (120 at 2700) 7.0 10.0 9.6
7x57 Mauser (139 at 2800) 8.0 14.0 10.6
7x57 Mauser (160 at 2600) 8.0 14.3 n/a
7mm-08 Rem. (120 at 3000) 8.0 13.8 n/a
7mm-08 Rem. (140 at 2860) 7.5 13.5 10.8
7mm-08 Rem. (160 at 2700) 8.0 14.8 n/a
.284 Win (150 at 2860) 7.5 17.4 n/a
7x64 (140 at 3000) 8.0 16.4 11.5
7x64 (154 at 2850) 8.0 17.9 n/a
7x65R (175 at 2600) 8.0 17.1 11.7
.280 Rem. (140 at 3000) 8.0 17.2 11.8
.280 Rem. (150 at 2900) 8.0 17.4 11.8
7mm Rem. SAUM (150 at 3015) 8.0 18.3 n/a
7mm WSM (140 at 3055) 8.0 20.9 n/a
7mm WSM (160 at 2795) 8.0 22.4 n/a
7mm Rem. Mag. (140 at 3150) 8.0 22.7 13.5
7mm Rem. Mag. (150 at 3100) 8.5 19.8 12.3
7mm Rem. Mag. (160 at 2950) 8.5 22.6 n/a
7mm Wby. Mag. (154 at 3200) 9.5 20.6 11.8
7mm STW (140 at 3400) 8.5 23.2 n/a
7mm STW (160 at 3185) 8.5 27.9 14.6
7mm Ultra Mag. (140 at 3425) 8.5 25.3 n/a
7mm Ultra Mag. (160 at 3200) 8.5 29.4 n/a
.30 Carbine (110 at 1990) 7.0 3.5 5.7
.30-30 Win. (150 at 2400) 7.5 10.6 9.5
.30-30 Win. (170 at 2200) 7.5 11.0 9.7
.30-40 Krag (180 at 2430) 8.0 16.6 n/a
.300 Sav. (150 at 2630) 7.5 14.8 n/a
.300 Sav. (180 at 2350) 7.5 15.2 11.4
.307 Win. (150 at 2600) 7.5 13.7 10.9
.307 Win. (180 at 2500) 7.5 18.0 n/a
7.5x55 Swiss (180 at 2566) 8.0 16.5 n/a
.308 Win. (150 at 2600) 7.5 14.0 n/a
.308 Win. (150 at 2800) 7.5 15.9 11.7
.308 Win. (165 at 2700) 7.5 17.9 n/a
.308 Win. (180 at 2610) 7.5 18.6 12.6
.308 Win. (180 at 2610) 8.0 17.5 11.9
.308 Win. (200 at 2450) 8.0 20.4 n/a
.30-06 Spfd. (150 at 2910) 7.5 21.7 n/a
.30-06 Spfd. (150 at 2900) 8.0 17.5 11.9
.30-06 Spfd. (165 at 2900) 8.0 22.5 n/a
.30-06 Spfd. (180 at 2700) 8.0 20.3 12.8
.30-06 Spfd. (220 at 2600) 8.0 25.5 14.3
.300 Rem. SAUM (165 at 3031) 8.0 22.4 n/a
.300 WSM (150 at 3290) 7.5 32.5 n/a
.300 WSM (180 at 2860) 8.0 26.1 n/a
.300 Norma Mag. (180 at 3000) 8.5 25.9 14.0
.300 Win. Mag. (150 at 3300) 8.5 27.5 n/a
.300 Win. Mag. (165 at 3100) 8.5 25.1 13.8
.300 Win. Mag. (180 at 2920) 8.0 26.5 n/a
.300 H&H Mag. (180 at 2920) 8.5 23.1 13.2
.300 Wby. Mag. (180 at 3200) 9.5 27.7 13.7
.300 Ultra Mag. (180 at 3218) 8.5 34.6 n/a
.30-378 Wby. Mag. (180 at 3450) 9.75 51.4 n/a
7.62x39 Soviet (125 at 2350) 7.0 6.9 8.0
.303 British (150 at 2700) 7.5 14.2 11.0
.303 British (174 at 2400) 9.0 13.0 9.6
.303 British (180 at 2420) 8.0 15.4 11.1
7.65x53 (180 at 2500) 8.0 15.4 n/a
.32-20 Win. (100 at 1984) 6.5 3.3 n/a
.32 Spec. (170 at 2200) 7.5 11.5 9.9
8x57J Mauser (170 at 2360) 8.0 12.9 n/a
8x57JS Mauser (150 at 2900) 8.0 17.1 11.7
8x68S (150 at 3300) 8.5 25.3 13.9
8x68S (220 at 2800) 8.5 30.0 n/a
8mm Rem. Mag. (200 at 2900) 8.5 32.9 15.8
.338-06 (200 at 2800) 8.0 23.9 13.9
.338 Win. Mag. (200 at 3000) 8.5 31.2 15.4
.338 Win. Mag. (225 at 2800) 9.0 29.7 14.6
.338 Win. Mag. (250 at 2700) 8.5 33.9 16.0
.338 Ultra Mag. (250 at 2860) 8.5 43.1 n/a
.340 Wby. Mag. (250 at 2900) 9.5 37.8 16.0
.338-378 Wby. Mag. (225 at 3180) 9.75 64.3 n/a
.348 Win. (200 at 2510) 8.0 23.7 n/a
.357 Mag. (rifle, 158 at 1700) 7.5 4.5 6.2
.357 Mag. (rifle, 180 at 1381) 7.5 3.9 n/a
.35 Rem. (200 at 2050) 7.5 13.5 10.8
.356 Win. (200 at 2400) 7.5 17.5 n/a
.358 Win. (200 at 2520) 8.0 21.3 n/a
.35 Whelen (200 at 2675) 8.0 22.6 13.5
.35 Whelen (250 at 2400) 8.0 26.1 n/a
.350 Rem. Mag. (180 at 2900) 7.5 24.5 n/a
.350 Rem. Mag. (200 at 2700) 8.0 24.2 14.0
.350 Rem. Mag. (250 at 2480) 8.5 26.8 n/a
.358 Norma Mag. (250 at 2800) 8.5 35.3 16.4
9.3x62 (270 at 2550) 8.5 33.3 n/a
9.3x74R (270 at 2300) 8.5 27.6 n/a
.375 Win. (220 at 2100) 7.5 15.6 11.6
.375 H&H Mag. (270 at 2690) 9.0 36.1 16.1
.375 H&H Mag. (300 at 2550) 9.0 42.3 17.4
.375 Wby. Mag. (300 at 2700) 9.5 46.2 17.7
.375 Ultra Mag. (300 at 2800) 8.75 53.2 n/a
.376 Steyr (270 at 2550) 9.0 30.1 n/a
.378 Wby. Mag. (300 at 2900) 10.5 52.4 17.9
.38-55 Win. (255 at 1415) 7.0 9.5 n/a
.450/.400-3" (400 at 2150) 9.0 51.0 n/a
.404 Jeffery (400 at 2170) 10.25 41.0 16.1
.405 Win. (300 at 2115) 8.0 27.6 n/a
.405 Win. (300 at 2232) 8.0 30.0 n/a
.416 Rigby (400 at 2350) 10.25 57.2 19.0
.416 Rem. Mag. (400 at 2400) 10.0 52.9 18.5
.416 Wby. Mag. (400 at 2700) 10.5 81.6 n/a
.44-40 Win. (rifle, 200 at 1200) 7.0 3.4 n/a
.44 Mag. (rifle, 240 at 1760) 7.5 11.2 9.8
.444 Marlin (240 at 2400) 7.5 23.3 14.2
.444 Marlin (265 at 2200) 8.5 25.8 n/a
.444 Marlin (300 at 2100) 8.5 25.8 14.0
.450 Marlin (350 at 2000) 7.0 38.7 18.9
.450 Marlin (350 at 2000) 8.0 33.8 16.5
.45-70 (300 at 1800) 7.5 24.1 14.4
.45-70 (300 at 1800) 10.0 18.0 10.8
.45-70 (350 at 2100) 10.0 29.5 13.8
.45-70 (405 at 1330) 7.5 23.5 n/a
.45-70 (500 at 1800) 10.0 39.2 15.9
.45-120 Sharps (405 at 1850) 9.0 33.9 n/a
.450 N.E. (465 at 2150) 11.0 55.5 18.0
.458 Win. Mag. (350 at 2470) 10.0 45.2 n/a
.458 Win. Mag. (500 at 2150) 9.5 65.1 21.0
.460 Wby. Mag. (500 at 2650) 10.5 99.9 24.8
.500/.465 N.E. (480 at 2150) 11.0 60.7 n/a
.470 N.E. (500 at 2150) 11.0 69.3 20.1
.50-140 Sharps (515 at 1955) 10.0 67.1 n/a
.500 N.E. (570 at 2150) 12.0 74.5 n/a
.50 BMG (647 at 2980) 30.0 84.5 13.5
.50 BMG (750 at 2700) 30.0 88.7 n/a
.577 N.E. (750 at 2050) 12.0 127.5 n/a
.600 N.E. (900 at 1950) 12.0 154.0 28.8
PS Tell your boss the .270 is a girl's round.
