Speaking of Model 70 "Featherweight" rifles. I remember long ago, there were 3 of us at the range for a sight-in session, and one of the guys had a Model 70 Featherweight in '06. I remember him setting up on the rest with this look on his face where "fun" was nowhere to be seen. He shot the rifle only two, maybe three times, but I'll never forget that even I could feel the recoil of that rifle just watching him.
I have no idea of whatever he did with the rifle, as I haven't seen the fellow for many years. But it was a firearm that he truly didn't need to own if he wanted something to shoot and ENJOY on any regular basis. No fun gun for sure right there. And no, I didn't want to take a shot with that one either...
I suppose if one was hunting where weight really was a factor on a hunt which likely including backpacking in somewhere, and one was a practiced rifleman enough to handle such a firearm, that would be one thing. But to just shoot a few rounds before hunting season each year, and then putting the rifle away until the following year, would be quite another. "Flinch factor" isn't even the right concept to discuss what my friend went through that day on the bench. I believe he'd have to go back to the Red Ryder days to re-learn anything relative to shooting basics after those "Featherweight" sight-in sessions. And as a parting shot here, I can't comment on his success in the field with the rifle, as I never had that discussion with him.
reinert