I have a G2 walnut with several barrels including a .375 JDJ. I dissagree with anyone comparing it to the 7mm mag and especially the 30-30.
It is not that bad, but does jump quite a bit. My cousin that shoots a .300 short mag, and several buddies that shoot standard weight bolt guns in 30-06 up to .300 win mag, including myself all feel it recoils more than any of our bolt guns.
My cousin that is 250lbs and very strong, got a scope imprint on his forehead and nose, it cut him really good. I have had bruises on the shoulder many times, before I installed a limbsaver recoil pad. The loads we were shooting are my reloads with the 260 grain nosler AB behind 48.5 grains of 4064. It prints under minute of angle at 100yrds. The factory 220 grain stuff is not that bad, but it is still quite snappy. The factory ammo shoots 3" groups at best in my gun, which is probably fine for brush hunting, but not good enough for what he cartridge is capable of.
My opinion, is get the barrel, but do not get a muzzle break. Install a limbsaver recoil pad (the Encore pad fits the G2 rifle stock) and make sure you have good eye relief on the scope you choose. It is a very accurate thumper of a cartridge. I love the power in a light weight carbine it offers. I mainly got it for a wild hog, bear, and hopefully moose(If I can ever draw a tag) cartridge, but it is so accurate that I am going to take a deer or two with it this year.
If you reload, you can load the heavier bullets for anything that north america has to offer and the lighter bullets for practice and deer. I have a practice load of 40 grains of H4895 and the sierra 200 gr flat nose that actually does feel just like a 30-30. It is very comfortable to shoot and is probably enough for deer. I have used the 200 sierra, 220 hornady flat point, 225 hornady spire point and the 260 Nosler AB, all shoot good, but the AB shoots most accurate. I still am not sure what bullet I will use on deer, but am still working on loads with the various bullets.
It is a great cartridge, but recoil definitely is more than most Contender rounds. Install the recoil pad and it shouldn't bother you a bit.
Good shooting,
Brian