I've never shot one before and I really liked it. Plus I looooooove the way they look. If you ask me, it(recoil) wasn't all together that much more than my ar. Which surprised me. There was more of a shove to it but it wasn't as snappy. You know what I mean??? Probably because all the equipment is heavier. Like the rifle, the bolt with the cycling handle are probably alot heavier than the ar's. Regardless, it seems like you could shoot awhile and not have it hurt too much. It does have it's drawbacks though. Like how do you guys deal with that cycling handle where it meets the top and bottom of the handgaurd??? I usually shoot with my left (support) hand pretty far back, like just in fron of the magwell. In fact when I shoot my ar, I usually bridge the magwell and hand gaurd with my left hand. So do you just train yourself to keep your left fingers more straight and awaw from that cycling handle thing?? Whatever the case, I could see how one would really get into shooting those things. They're just so dang pretty.