Recoil is nothing when on a hunt - one shot. Recoil is a factor when shooting paper - fun at the Rifle Range with several shots. A 7mm-Mag, belted cartridge, will kick your teeth loose ... can get you to closing eyes and yanking trigers ..... I love all cartridges-calabers and firearms, but I enjoy less recoil when shooting for fun. I'm not sure that a 7mm-Mag burns all the powder, and there's lots of muzzle blast / load makes a difference. When your young, you want cannons .... I did - but now I bring them down a bit. 7mm-08, 223, 22 Mag, 22 Long, 12G, 20G, 45 Auto, Paint ball gun for back yard. My big one was a 300 Win Mag, belted - a crusher ,,,, also had a 41 Mag, 270, 30-06, 9mm, 45-70, 50 Cal Muz, and the story goes on. Now I shoot the 22 Mag more because it draws less attention in the area ..................... have had people call the law when I was hunting on open land with permission - they move out here from the City and just don't know. The 7mm-Mag has recoil and blast .. more than needed at the Range, and that's where I do most of my shooting.