[Jeff Higgins]

Aaron, the long and the short of it is that in shooting, there is no "free lunch". There are two major factors, and a third lesser factor, that contribute to recoil. Bullet weight and velocity are the two biggest factors, with gas pressure a minor, third factor. This third factor really only comes to play in modern, "high pressure" calibers, in the form of kind of a "jet affect" when those gasses exit the muzzle.

Muzzle brakes are most effective in reducing this "jet exhaust" factor, by re-directing those high pressure gasses so they do not push the rifle back at you. Muzzle brakes do nothing to tame bullet weight or velocity factors in generating recoil.

There is no magic here. The 7mm-08 ("seven - oh - eight" when you go to that gun store) shoots about the same bullet weights at about the same velocities as the .270. Recoil will be indistinguishable between the two in similar weight rifles with similar stock designs. Just basic physics here - we can't "fool" physics, no matter how much shooting hyperbole we muster.

Rifle weight and stock design go a long ways towards reducing felt recoil. For example, a 7mm-08 that weighs five pounds and has a butt no wider than your forefinger will generate a good deal more felt recoil than one that weighs fifteen pounds and has a butt as wide as the palm of your hand. Granted, those are extremes, but they illustrate a point. Some calibers have a reputation for nasty recoil simply due to the rifles they were originally widely available in (how about a checkered steel butt plate on a sporterized .30-'06 Springfield?). Some calibers have a reputation for relatively "mild" recoil, like the 7mm Remington Magnum, first issued in the M700 with a nice recoil pad affixed.

In other words, the caliber is only half the question. The rifle is the other half. Your neighbor's .375 H&H, if properly designed and of a weight suitable for the caliber, may have less felt recoil than, say, a Model 7 Remington in 7mm-08. So, we really cannot say "a 7mm-08 kicks less than a .270" - the cartridges themselves generate almost identical recoil. The respective rifles will make the difference. Most 7mm-08's tend to be "lightweight" rifles, while .270's tend to be "full size" rifles. A 6.5 pound 7mm-08 will have more felt recoil than an 8.5 pound .270.

So, don't get too enamored with the myth of reduced recoil in the 7mm-08. Your gut instinct is correct - can't happen. As a matter of fact, I would shy away from the 7mm-08, and other "modern" calibers like it, as a primary hunting rifle. These oddballs really have only two audiences - less than savvy hunters looking for some "magic" and succumbing to advertising hype, or very savvy "hobby" shooters/reloaders looking for something "different". The vast majority of hunters are far, far better served with the old standards - .270, .30-'06, .308, .30-30, etc.

Recoil is always going to be a problem in a hunting rifle. To be both light enough to carry all day and also pack enough punch to reliably kill big game, simply physics dictates there is going to be some noticeable recoil. Yes, "small bores" like the 6.5 x 55 and 7 x 57 Mausers, or the .257 Roberts mentioned earlier have their place (the 6.5 is a personal favorite). They do minimize recoil. They do, however, demand more from the hunter - more discipline in getting close, and more discipline in passing up questionable shots like (quartering away raking shots). They are not for the casual hunter.

My recommendation would be a bolt-action, standard weight rifle in .30-'06 from one of the better known and respected manufacturers. I'm partial to Winchester Model 70's for a lot of reasons, but there are others. Get a good strap on recoil pad, start with light "varmint" loads in the 110-120 grain range for practice, and practice a lot. Shoot the bejeebers out of it. You will get acclimated to the recoil. Any centerfire hunting rifle feels like it kicks a lot to a newer shooter. Keep at it and get used to it. Don't let an initial impression of "wow, that kicks a lot" decide it for you or your wife. They all feel that way at first.