That stainless 300 WSM felt very good to me. Had it been the 270 WSM that I have been trying to talk myself into, It would ave came home with me. Like I said, it won't be a carry rifle. I own some land in my hunting unit where I can oversee an area about 400 yards wide and 550-600 yards long. There are several good points where a guy can watch for the deer to come up on the winter wheat in the evening. I even saw an elk there a few weeks ago. They are rare in that unit though its the first one I have seen in several years. They are common about 75 miles or so west of my land. I tend to agree about the recoil. I think any of the WSM's would be pretty mild in a rifle that Heavy. I do have a bad, bad shoulder but I am due to get a new joint in it this winter. Maybe they have a Kevlar joint.