Wife #1--M700 .30-06. Wife #2--M70 .30-06. Current G/F--Model 700 .270. None was taller than 5'3" or weighed more than 135. All were very reliable game shots. I think we worry too much about recoil. They did/do not. I asked G/F if she wanted me to load some light .270's for practice. She said: "Why? My rifle shoots fine as it is."