I'll agree with most men on this forum regarding recoil. Most men can can handle everything up to and including a .470 NE. I do belive it has been stated that any of the .500s and the .458 Lott is where the pain begins. Also as many have stated, you can become accustom to the recoil, just like an areobatic pilot gets his "sea legs" by doing more areobatics. That said, I usally don't shoot my 470 more than 6 times at one time, as to not develop a flinch.