I also have the 36 which is the same gun with a fancier stock. The kick is nothing more than a little jolt I would say. A 300 Win mag kicks, a 12 gauge kicks, an air rifle doesn't kick in the same sense. It...kinda just gives a little jolt. Nothing more that a 22 lr would, not to me anyway. I kicks in the realm of an air rifle as most air rifles we grew up with, mostly pumper's and c02 and such didn't kick at all. As for adult air rifles when compared to more civilized air rifles you will feel the "kick". Just my .02 pennies