If your getting hit with the scope on a 7 mag its either poorly set up, it has a scope with rediculously low eye relief or your shooting form needs some adjustment. Getting wacked in the face with your scope will make you scared of a rifle much faster than one that just kicks a lot.

Once you have devloped a flinch its not that easy to get rid of it. Its sort of like being an alcoholic. You can not drink, but its always there in the background waiting to come haunt you if your not vigelent.

Before you consider a new recoil pad or a new rifle/caliber to fix your problem see if the rifle and scopeis set up right. Typically a scope has a range of eye relief say 3 to 4 inches. Some scopes have more than others. I try to put my scopes on my rifles so that when I am in ashooting position I am right in the middle of the eye relief window. That makes for a rifle thats fast to aquire a sight picture. However, If I will shoot the rifle from the prone position I position the scope so I am at the "back" of that window soi don't get wacked buy the scope. You would do this by loosing up the scope rings and sliding the scope forward to the furthest that you can and still have a full field of view.

In your shooting position make sure you have the rifle firmly in the pocket of your shoulder.

If you decide on a new rifle remember that both the weight of the rifle as well as the cartridge determine recoil. The amount of recoil a cartridge delevops is a complex formula but you can use a energy as a rough indicator of recoil in rifles of similar weight.

Everyone will always have their favorite cartridges.. Thats ok it makes forums like this one tick. If you decide on a new rifle here are a few guidelines.

1) for deer you want about 1000ft/lb of energy or more at the range you shoot.

2) Be honest to yourself at what range you will do 95% of your shooting when considering both the energy and accuracy i need from myrifle.

I see lots of folks walking around in the NY deer woods with 300 mags and a long shot where I hunt might be 80 yards. Since 80 yards is my long range, I choose a rifle that can shoot very well to 150. That gives me a little extra range and accuracy than I needwhich helps me feel confidant in my weapon. But I would still be well served with a scope sighted 30.30 or a bolt in 243 257 Roberts etc.

Lastly if you do decide a new rifle is the ticket, remember that it won't cure a flinch on its own. You have to work to get over it. That means shooting. Do lots of your shooting standing or sitting ( real sitting,not sitting at the bench.) Wear very good ear protection maybe muffs and plugs.

Avoid the Bench and prone postions at much as you can. maybe get a friend to do the sight in at first.