ORIGINAL: Paul L Mohr
... but realistically how much recoil would this really have. ...
I got back from the range just 10 minutes ago. This time out I took my .243 and my .30-'06. With my coat on, the kick of the .243 was barely noticeable. The '06, though,took some solid concentration to squeeeeeeeze my shots off, & it took me off the sight picture with each shot. It's a shootable rig, but the .243 is borderline effortless.
ORIGINAL: Paul L Mohr
I figure with this gun I could pretty much kill anything on this landmass if I wanted to, from woodchucks to Moose. I saw a 140 grn polymer tipped bullet that I bet would disintegrate a woodchuck at any distance I could hit.
No doubt about it! The 7mm RM will take anything on the continent, and most of them with considerable ease. With the right bullet, you could watch the woodchucksvaporize into a pink mist.
ORIGINAL: Paul L Mohr
I really don't plan on hunting anything bigger than deer though to be honest, I can't even use it on deer where I live.
Should I just stick to the two smaller cartridges?
Paul
In this case, yes, you probably should stick with the smaller cartridges. You'll find .243 ammo almost everywhere, & for a reasonably low price. Factory ammo choices are bountiful, and you'll be able to develop good shooting habits without fearing scope-eye or a sore shoulder.
A 7mm Rem Mag will have more expensive ammo., & the kick will be something you'll have to deal with. It's certainly manageable, but it's there nonetheless.
Think of it like this: have you ever seen the housewife who tools around the suburbs in her Yukon Denali, all by herself? She'd be equally well served by a Civic, but she thinks the extra upfront cost, extra fuel cost, extra tire cost, extra insurance cost, reduced turning radius, and reduced visibility are worth it. To each their own!
FC