I am considered a chicken when it comes to recoil, but I shoot both of my .223 barrels using a rifle scope. I shoot Hornady 40 grain Vmax and 52 gr. Match using a rifle scope. I have yet been hit with the scope. Also, if you want to reduce recoil use 13 to 13.5 grains of Blue Dot powder. I am getting just a tad under 3000 FPS with 13 grains of Blue Dot
powder in my 14 inch barrel. Give it a try, it will surprise you both in FPS and recoil.