A lot of "felt" recoil can be diminished by use of a properly fit stock as well as proper shouldering form. As long as both of those criteria are met, the .44 mag lever gun is a real puppy to shoot. My longer barreled .44 mag pistols are puppies unless I have a really heavy bullet and heavy powder charge loaded up. Even then they aren't unmanageable. The real kickers are the short barreled little monstrosities. I am assuming you live somewhere that a rifle cartridge has to be of a straightwalled design or a pistol cartridge or some such? If not, I would say go with a nice .243 with a junior stock and let her rip!