The recoil is about on par with a 30-06. It's not too bad. I use either 140gr nosler accubond or 150gr swift scirocco bonded bullets for deer. The swifts are a little more severe on the deer and not quite as accurate as the accubonds. The accubonds are perfect for deer. Don't use the ballistic tip for deer, they will fragment alot of times and not fully penetrate. You have a good rifle and it will do you good in any hunting situation. I have the 7mm saum in a 700 sendero. It's a tackdriver and devastating on big game.