I noticed You stated your Friend wanted a better performing Rifle that wouldn't make him flinch?If You go with any Magnum or WSM Rifle it is going to have a little more felt-recoil.Any ways...I have a Browning bolt-action .270 WSM and it is a much faster bullet that will reach out further than a standard .270 Rifle,it will have more recoil with it being a WSM Rifle and unless You reload your own brass the shells will cost around $30.00 to $40.00 per box of 20 shells.I'm shooting Winchester 150 grain soft-point bullets,You could get other grain bullets that would be lighter but I wanted a heavier bullet for Deer Hunting?I know some guys that have been using 130 grain Ballistic-tip bullets on Whitetails but those could damage meat if they were to hit solid bone...personally I would only use a Ballistic-tip bullet on Predators or Varmints!