I was sighting it in, in the summer with only a short sleeve shirt. I used several loads. The Hornady flextip ammo, 300 and 405 grain. All seemed to kick harder than any other guns I have owned. I can handle the kick, I just feel it more. My only other gun to kick almost as hard is my Ruger 308 with the skeletonised stock. I also have a 30-06 bolt gun. All my semi's don't kick so hard.