I have said before here that I have owned five 7MM Mags and I really wanted to like them. However including my 338 mag and 300 Weatherby and Win. Mags, the 7 Mags hit me the hardest of anything except my 416 Rem Mag. I droped down a notch to the 280 and have found nothing that it won't do just as well with a lot less pain. Its true that during hunting situations you never feel the recoil. However if I want a gun that I can take out and enjoy shooting, It won't ever again be a 7 Mag. Out to 400 yards the 280 will drop anything that the 7 Mag will. I have shot them both a lot. I am on my third 280 as well. The 270 would fit into the same slot. Drop to 350 yards and the 260, 7mm-08, 7x57 and 308 will also do the same kind of work.