I have never felt the shot and most times can't remember pulling the trigger but my ears have rang slightly depending on the terrain I was in.
It might hurt a little on range but that doesn't mean anything in the field.
I have to disagree 100% with that statement.
In the field is not where one should be worried about the recoil of a gun. It's on the range where the first time rifle shooter should worry about the recoil.... when he/ she is suppose to be learning good shooting habits with their first center fire rifle. It's on the bench where first time shooters develop flinches, close their eyes at the shot, jerk the trigger, etc... etc... If they develope bad shooting habits on the bench because you gave them too much gun then what good are they going to be inthe field.
IMHO if a person can only shoot 5 rounds from a gun off a bench they don't have any business hunting with that gun. In the field it
should only take one but if that one doesn't get there and hit its mark it will take multiple shots.
In contrast my 13 year old son can shoot two boxes from his 30-06 and his shoulder doesn't get tender and can practice much longer. IMO a much better choice for his first center fire rifle than a 300 magnum would have been.
Some people are intemidated by recoil and muzle blast and some people honestly hate recoil. The lady EKM is refering to came right out and said in the very first post that if she purchased a 7mm mag or 300 mag they would definetly get a muzzle brake. So... #1 - both of those calibers kick too hard for her to shoot well and she does not like the recoil from them and #2 - the added muzzle blast of the brake will likely only counter the benefit of the recoil reduction. Just as many people develop bad shooting habits from blast as they do from recoil.
For the first time center fire shooter I would never ever reccomend a magnum. After they have learned to shoot well with womething like a .308, 7mm-08 or .270 then by all means step up to bigger and harder recoiling guns. Aside from this a magnum isn't needed in almost all hunting circumstances.
BTW, I am by no means anti magnum but I am anti over gunning a person unnecessarily.