thndrchiken

I've shot all of what you list, to put it in context, figure the recoil of your 777 load now instead of the whop bang it's just bang. Seriously recoil about the same you'll just notice the difference in how quickly it builds. While there is nothing wrong with the 300 WM, don't count out the 06, factory loads up to 220 gr ( if your willing to search/pay for it ) or if handloading you can really have fun. Will the 300 do anything the 06 can't, no it'll just do it a little faster. As far as a recoil pad goes I've put decelerator's on all of my rifles, I here the Sims is very good as well.

manitou210

Hank here is a little info for you, I have owned and still do .308, 30.06 & .280 Rem they all did excellent job on everything I hunted including bears (B) and moose. I sold my .280 Rem last year and got a Rem 700 with a Hart barell & Mcmillan stock,in 7mmwsm.6lbs 7 oz + scope. This cartridge will out perform by quite a bit in every aspect, except for the .30cal with heavy bullets. Recoil is more with 7mmwsm than others. With a 140 grmax load I would compare it to a 30.06 with 55grains of 4350 and a 190gr bullet and more muzzel blast. But as a lot of fellows said when shooting at a Big Buck you will never notice it. But as Doctor Death said; unless scope gets me between eyes, and that has happened to many hunters, Doc I am still giggling about yourpost very funny.
I shot a 200lb buck this fall on a fast walk at 390 yards ( lasered) and it was like a bolt of lighting hit him.
The 300wsm is a great cartridge but take a look at the 7mmwsm its pretty impresive, either one and you won't look back, and they can tack, go to shortmags.org lots of info on the wsm. and other short mags
Good luck