all are the same recoil with similar bullets, the 120 grain roberts, 120 grain 260 and 120 grain 7mm will be so close in recoil. Find a gun that you like first and then decide on caliber. The Kimber rifle has a pachmeyer decelerator pad, a good stock and is offered in 257 Roberts, or 260 or 7-08 it would be a good first choice. Note that it is my opinion that the twist in the Kimber 260 lends itself more to lighter bullets. That said unless moose is on the menu with the .260 then a 140 grain .260 should be fine. The most versitile of the 3 would be the 7-08, the best dedicated "deer gun" would probably be the .257 Roberts!