My gun of choice for whitetails is the 7 mm mag. As stated in other posts, when a deer is scoped I've never felt the recoil but I do use a recoil pad at the range. I also use a .338 mag for moose and once again have never felt the recoil while hunting. The worst recoil gun that I shot was an old Spanish dbl. S/S 12 g. The problem with the Spanish style is the angle of how the butt sits on the shoulder (and this sucker had no recoil pad). Fired it once and once wasenough. It was an old gun of my friend's father and since that time at the range, ithas been for display only. I don't understand the need to own a gun that can put me on my a**.I look at all my firearms as tools and not toys so since I'm not planning of ever going to Africa for dangerous game, why buy a thumper when not needed. I've seen a few guys at the range that bring out the artillery, get pounded at the range, then laugh about it. I just can't see the enjoyment in it. Personally, I would worry about getting the, "flinch", which would screw me up for the rest of my guns (andGod forbid during a hunting situation). just a humble opinion.