I disagree that the .308 isn' t a bad kicker...personally sitting at a bench trying to shoot the best groups you can, a .308 is not a fun gun for me to shoot. I' ve owned a few and while it' s not like a .338 mag, it' s still a very sharp rap.

Your H&R is a very light gun as well and the combination is causing you trouble.

I had a friend with a very lightweight marlin lever gun in .44 mag. He had it rechambered to .444 Marlin and it was aweful!!!!

I suggest a recoil pad (already suggested) and when you shoot that gun from the bench, use a heavy sock filled with T-shirts between your shoulder and the butt stock.

Shooting at deer, you probably will never notice. But that' s where the recoil pad comes in handy.....they also have a slip-on pad that works too.