Just picking up one of those rifles and shooting and you think there is not much a recoil difference. Sit down and shoot the 30/06 10 times then pick up the wsm and you'll think it is beating you to death. I never thought my 7mag was that bad till I sighted in my 25/06 this year THEN picked up my magnum. It's what you get used to. You'll never get "used to" a 3.5 with turkey loads. They kick like a mule.