Rick,
Isn't it great, how honest men may disagree, honestly. While there is some merit in what you say, there are many reasons why some may disagree with you. Just as there are those who may disagree with me. So let me explain my position and if we still disagree, so be it.

I wasn't expressing an opinion, but was attempting to answer Steves question as I understood it. However, starting youngsters on reduced load ammo, IMHO, is an excellent idea. Remember, a load equal to the .30-30, .300 Savage or .30-40 Kraig are all reduced loadings compared to the .308 W. And all have taken a whole lot of big game. Who says the .308 W doesn't kick? I shoot a .308. If that rifle isn't hitting me everytime I shoot it, I'm going to be mad as all get out at whoever has been sneaking up and thumping me and is so fast I can't catch them.I've always thought that experience had something to do with how we precieve recoil. Size, I'm told, also has something to do with it as well. Maybe that's why I seem to recall some rifles that kicked more than a .308, but I also recall some that kick a whole lot less, such as the .243 W. . Perhaps because of when I had young children at home, money was a little tight and we didn't have half a dozen rifles around the house so everyone had their own. Perhaps that is why when someone talks about taking their kids hunting I take for granted that it will be done on a shoe string. I think half of us know what a shoe string is like. It makes no difference how big our outfit is, the only important thing is that we get our kids out there with us as much as possible. As much as I took my kids out, it wasn't enough. I wish I'd done it a lot more than I did.

I wish you a good hunting season.