Check out the .308 ballistics as compared to the .30-06. You might be suprised to find that the .308 is actually just as "big" as the .30-06.
Yep, particularly with a quality bullet and the .308 short action can make a much handier rifle for carrying all day. My Cooper .303 M22 doesn't fall under handy to carry but it is an accurate son of a gun.