Gifted new, but I sold it off with the remaining half box of shells. Bad stock design and with a hard recoil plate, but I've had little use for 7Mags since. I know- not the calibers fault, but there is nothing a 7 Mag can do in my world that a less harsh '06 won't, or a 300 Mag won't do better with the same felt recoil as the 7 Mag. I'm not recoil sensitive within reason. I handle my Ruger 338 mag up to 10-15 bench shots, then I give it a break for a day before I do develop a problem.
That's my opinion, and you're not changing it after 40 years! Probably that first experience has made me mentally recoil sensitive to the 7 Mag. Never liked but one that I've shot over the decades.
I did once try to buy a customer out of a Husquavarna in 7 Mag after working on it. I'd have kept that one. Sweet handling/ sweet recoil, and a sub MOA, near one-hole shooter. I'm prejudiced, but I'm not completely foolish! Arguably.
Probably that first experience has made me mentally recoil sensitive to the 7 Mag. Never liked but one that I've shot over the decades.
