I've fired a M-16 a bunch, bad recoil isn't one of it's traits. About the only service rifle of it's era that had softer recoil might be the M1 Carbine.
I was referring to his reading "M-16" as "M-61", and replying to that. Having qualified expert on the M-16A1 in the USAF, I'm quite aware of its relatively docile handling.