I have hunted with an 870 Express with rifled barrel for several years...it is in fact my preferred weapon...I shoot Winchester 1 oz sabots and I can tell you it kicks like a mule. I believe the difference between the slug gun and the rifle's kick is the weight of the projectile. But to me, the extra recoil is an acceptable trade-off for the incredible knock-down power I get with the slug gun. Not one buck I've taken with it has taken a single step after being hit. All of them went down like a piano got dropped on them (shot from above) and one I shot from the ground spun 90 degrees and fell facing the opposite direction from where he was when I hit him! I've also found that I easily get good groups with it out to 75-100 yards (have not tried further), which is more than adequate for the area I hunt. I have to admit the trip to the range to sight in is a bit unpleasant, though!