I have a M700 ADL in 7 mag. bought at walmart in 92. This one has composite stock. I replaced the trigger with a Timney in the first couple of years. I love this gun, and have killed about 20 deer with it, all hunting in stands. I have neglected to weigh it, but it's heavy. It shoots sub 3/4" 100yd groups.
Last summer I got an itch for a 26-06, and looked at Winchester, ruger, remmington, and Tikka. Kept coming back to the T3 lite, stainless. Finally went into a lgs, and he had one on the shelf, so I bought it. Put a zeiss terra 10 x 42 scope. Picked up a couple of boxes of American whitetail ammo, and went to the range. Couldn't shoot much cause I don't like getting the gun hot. didn't like the accuracy much. Got some brass and loaded 30rounds as a ladder setup with the nosler 115gr. ballistic tip. At about a 40 total round count, the groups tightened up. Didn't matter at what load, but got real tight at the highest loads (sorry I will have to check notes, I cant remember what powder and weight), with holes touching each other. Even went back to the American whitetail and grouped under an inch.
If I was going mule deer hunting, and maybe elk, I would take the Tikka if it will shoot a partition near as well as the ballistic tip, as it weighs 6lbs 1.5oz. unloaded. I need to weigh the M700, but it feels like 9+ lbs.
Sorry for the long post, but I recommend the T3 lite. As for recoil at the range, just wear a recoil pad, you wont notice recoil with an animal in the crosshairs. I use a PAST magnum recoil pad at the range.