The added muzzle blast while hunting is much worse than any recoil it tames. It is OK on a range where you can wear major ear protection, but who wants to hunt with ear protection? I have a .30-06 BOSS and early on before I got the CR plug (the non muzzle brake muzzle) every year when I would kill a deer or two, my ears would ring for 3 or 4 days after those one or two shots, sometimes for a week. I was too young and dumb to know better. Older now and with some moderate hearing loss, I wish I had gotten that CR plug a lot sooner. Other things have contributed to that hearing degradation, but I am sure that 06 didn't help. Neither a 7 Mag or a .30-06 (without a brake) kicks that bad for a hunting rifle. Just be careful (with your ears) when shooting it in the field.