ORIGINAL: salukipv1
I would certainly think a 20ga slug would kick way harder than a .243, any .243 that's a normal weight, even a lightweight model with a recoil pad I can't see kicking at all. If a kid can't handle a .243, I agree, hold off a year or two til he can.
While you are certainly entitled to your opinion, I must say that you are wrong. My sons NEF Handi rifle had more recoil than I ever anticipated. I guess the lightness of the rifle, the short stock, and 20 inch barrelaffected the recoil.
I'm not saying that it was unbearable because it simply wasn't. But it was more than I expected. I actually wasn't surprised when my boy complained. I actually think the muzzle blast was the worst of it. The first time I shot it I was a little taken back by the muzzle blast. So I simply loaded some reduced power loads, and he shoots it quite comfortably. Lets be honest if a deer isn't within 100 yards I won't let him shoot anyway, so the 85 gr partition traveling 2500 fps will more than do the job.