Ray,

There is no doubt you are right about firing the big rifle reduces the apparent recoil of the smaller rifle even though the smaller rifle has a big kick such as the 416 Remington.

There is another observation I have made with 375 shooters at our rifle range. If the shooter has a lot of interest in big bores (but has not used or owned them) and is very conscious of the fact that a 375 is in reality only a medium powered gun the recoil to that shooter seems far less than it is for the shooter who thinks the 375 is a cannon. In other words Cartridges of the World plus reading Big Bore forums can reduces the apparent recoil of a 375.

Mike