It is a very good cartridge. I have used one and the ballistics are about equal to that of the 300 Win Mag. However I already have the standard 300 win mag and I would not trade it for the short mag if I had to pay any difference. You should get less recoil from the short mag as it does shoot a smaller powder charge. If you were however to buy one for that reason alone, I think you would be disappointed. The biggest advantage to me would be the shorter action lenght. If I was younger I might buy one.