uhmm dont tell the finance department (A.K.A. wife) but as soon as our local gun shop has a .325 wsm in the montana its coming home with me. My buddy got one a week ago and i have shot it a few rounds and yes the recoil is a bit stiff, but certainly no worse then my 9lb .338. i am all into a gun that goes 6 lbs 11 1/2 oz all up with a 3.5-10 VXIII and approaches very very near the beloved .338 WM