Strangely enough the Ruger Ranch rifle I shot in 450BM had more of a hard shove than a kick. It wasn't bad at all whereas my AR in 450 had a severe kick. Don't know whether it was the recoil pad on the Ruger that made the diffence or something else. Like I said, in actual field use on a deer I never felt it. Heavy clothes and pumping adrenaline must have made a difference.