I DON'T handle recoil well. I shoot bigbores and have for over 50 years. My upper limit is 22LR. I'm serious in my dislike and take every step to reduce it. Proper stock,proper recoil pad, mercury reducers and any trick but muzzle breaks and I even have one 416Rigby Ruger that is Mag-Na-Ported. It's a purely subjective and individual thing in my opinion. I seem to feel most uncomfortable with a 300 Win Mag than with anything else. The second most uncomfortable is a 458 Win Mag. As a result I don't own either caliber. I handle and shoot 375H&H with little problem and my 470 double off hand is not a problem as also my 416Rigby Brno. I don't know what the deciding factor is but with me I believe it is the recoil 'impulse' for lack of a better term.