If the only concern is for your wife, at the range, buy the rifle you want, and get her a recoil pad or 3.
Start with this:
PAST Hidden Comfort for Women Recoil Pad Shield Ambidextrous - MidwayUSA
If that isn't enough, you can put a good pad on the rifle, or add something like this:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=699899