I traded for a 460 with the 8 3/8 barrel, recoil is no worse that a stout 44 mag. I shoot the Hornady 200 grain FTX ammo. I have shot the same gun in 500 with Steinel and Underwood 350 grain ammo, it is a literal bruiser, it bruised the "web" part of my hand between the thumb and index finger...