Yep I really had to lean into. That was without a jacket so for hunting it would just not work. Recoil is not unbearable but it is good sharp punch all at once. This is the only gun I have that I just let roll when it recoils.Figure odds of catching the scope in the forehead were pretty good. If I bear down and don't let it roll and take all the recoil the gun is not much fun to shoot more than a half dozen times or so.
