C.mon now folks... ALL guns have a recoil, regarless of size. Even a .22 registers a recoil. I agree that a .223 has very little kick, but it depends largely on the size and make of weapon and the size and make of the person shooting it. For instance, I've got two .30-06s... one of them doesn't hardly have any recoil, feels like shooting a smaller rifle. The other one kicks like a bee-stung mule! Another mistake: I used to own a big bore rifle, a .416 that I bought at an auction for next to nothing, the thing was old and weighed a TON! It kicked about as much as your average .300 Win Mag. Amazingly, I found another .416 pretty cheap. I took both to the range. I fired the one I just bought and I thought my shoulder was going to dislocate! My point is: ALL guns have varying degrees of recoil. Luckily, I'm 6'4" and weigh in around 270#'s so recoil isn't much of an issue. Hell, my pellet gun even has a recoil. Ever shot a Thompson Contender with a .223 barrel? I'm willing to bet it's got a helluva recoil! Some of those "featherweight" guns can be punishing. So, don't discount the .223's recoil. Someday you may find a .223 that surprises the heck out of you!