Funny you should ask. I was just out shooting my 835 yesterday. Now for all the years I have owned this gun I always shot it from a sitting position on the ground. Just like when I am hunting. Yesterday I decided to shoot it from a bench. WOW! there is like 3 times the felt recoil shooting 3 1/2's from the bench. Must be cause I lean into it more. Rattled my fillings lose, had the scope hit me in the eye bone once, I couldn't believe the recoil. Seriously, I never thought shooting 3 1/2's was a big deal untill yesterday. I suffered through 5 rounds yesterday, and plan to shot it six more times yet before season, to compleat some testing. If you have a hard time with heavy recoil I recomend shooting from a sitting on the ground position, makes a lot of difference. Winchester 3 1/2's are without a doubt the worst recoil I have ever experianced.