salty

I have the ruger M-77 mark 2 in 300 win mag. I think it kicks but not nearly as much as my remington .35 whelen used to. it was a model 700 classic and felt like an elephant gun.

Doe Dumper

7 Mag is a nice round but it sure isnt needed for deer. With that being said a 30-06 isnt gonna kick a whole lot easier. I would try one of the 308 based rounds or a 25-06. Chances areyou are never gonna be comfortable with that gun again no matter what you do.

statjunk

I would hook up with a more experienced shooter at the range. It is likely that you aren't holding your rifle correctly.

A lot of the advice here is to go with a lower cartridge but I don't think that is completely necessary though I would agree that you don't need a mag to hunt deer.

I went through this with turkey loads out of a 12 guage. With the proper technique I can now shoot off over 20 turkey loads with no trouble at all.

Tom

NoKnees

If your getting hit with the scope on a 7 mag its either poorly set up, it has a scope with rediculously low eye relief or your shooting form needs some adjustment. Getting wacked in the face with your scope will make you scared of a rifle much faster than one that just kicks a lot.

Once you have devloped a flinch its not that easy to get rid of it. Its sort of like being an alcoholic. You can not drink, but its always there in the background waiting to come haunt you if your not vigelent.

Before you consider a new recoil pad or a new rifle/caliber to fix your problem see if the rifle and scopeis set up right. Typically a scope has a range of eye relief say 3 to 4 inches. Some scopes have more than others. I try to put my scopes on my rifles so that when I am in ashooting position I am right in the middle of the eye relief window. That makes for a rifle thats fast to aquire a sight picture. However, If I will shoot the rifle from the prone position I position the scope so I am at the "back" of that window soi don't get wacked buy the scope. You would do this by loosing up the scope rings and sliding the scope forward to the furthest that you can and still have a full field of view.

In your shooting position make sure you have the rifle firmly in the pocket of your shoulder.

If you decide on a new rifle remember that both the weight of the rifle as well as the cartridge determine recoil. The amount of recoil a cartridge delevops is a complex formula but you can use a energy as a rough indicator of recoil in rifles of similar weight.

Everyone will always have their favorite cartridges.. Thats ok it makes forums like this one tick. If you decide on a new rifle here are a few guidelines.

1) for deer you want about 1000ft/lb of energy or more at the range you shoot.

2) Be honest to yourself at what range you will do 95% of your shooting when considering both the energy and accuracy i need from myrifle.

I see lots of folks walking around in the NY deer woods with 300 mags and a long shot where I hunt might be 80 yards. Since 80 yards is my long range, I choose a rifle that can shoot very well to 150. That gives me a little extra range and accuracy than I needwhich helps me feel confidant in my weapon. But I would still be well served with a scope sighted 30.30 or a bolt in 243 257 Roberts etc.

Lastly if you do decide a new rifle is the ticket, remember that it won't cure a flinch on its own. You have to work to get over it. That means shooting. Do lots of your shooting standing or sitting ( real sitting,not sitting at the bench.) Wear very good ear protection maybe muffs and plugs.

Avoid the Bench and prone postions at much as you can. maybe get a friend to do the sight in at first.

TUK101

Exactly, I cannot think of anybody who "likes" recoil. There are those of us who have grown used to it and are able to work around it, but I cannot think of anybody who likes it. Setting up your scope properly is the first step to helping with the problem, and if you still cannot shoot the gun confidently then a new "lighter caliber" gun is probably the only fix. That and a lot of rounds through the gun till you are confident with it.

Zigo1965

you could get a muzzle break installed witch cuts recoil and muzzle jump about 50%
it will set u back about 150.00
also they are selling reduced recoil ammo i think remington sells it not shure about 7 mag
or if u know some one who reloads they could reduce the load and seat the tip to maximum
lenth and do not crimp it.i reload for my 300 win mag and the recoil is about 20% less than the factory
ammo and you shoot much tighter groups.
they have numerous recoil pads and shoulder pads that help also.

Chantecler111

Since shooting form is a little different for everybody, let one of your friends shoot the rifle and see if it dings him in the face.

Catus Magnus

Bad idea, IMHO. It'll be a LOT louder, with worse muzzle blast - and both noise and blast add to flinching. That'll just make it worse, and you've spent money doing it. I wouldn't do it.

30-30! 30-30! 30-30!

haugenna

Savage,

Yeah let someone else shoot it and see if it kicks them. I know just the idiot. This moron just shot a .378 a total of 18 times and the dumba$$ ended up with whiplash. Let me know if u want his info.

Mike from Texas

Then if that's the case, I gotta ask. Why did you get a 7mm Magnum in the first place? Sounds like you certainly don't need it.