I suppose I'll find out soon enough about the recoil. I've only ever fired one .416 Rigby, an iron sighted Sako Brown Bear using the Hornady factory 400 grain DGX bullets 20 shots in a row, so that is my point of reference. I found it stiff but tolerable.

I do feel quite a difference moving from the .450NE to the .500NE with full power loads 500 and 570 grain respectively. About 10 shots in with the .500 and I've quite had more than enough of a good thing and need to stop for the day. The .450 isn't quite as brisk, but it still rings my bell and after maybe 20 rounds I've had quite enough of that toy for the day as well. I love shooting the .450 using 1 grain less of H4350 than my full power loads with Hornady FTX 325 grain bullets. Regulates well and is very pleasant to shoot from a recoil perspective.

Interesting point of note is the weight of the various rifles. Both the .450 and .500 were up over 10 pounds, but fit very well. I subscribe to the belief that stock design and fit becomes very critical as recoil goes up.

Some time ago I had a Blaser S2 in .470 and I found the recoil brutal to the point of coming to despise the rifle. After half a dozen shots, I got a blinding headache and a bruised cheek. I moved to a .470 Merkel and found it better, but still hard to shoot. At least the Merkel didn't turn my second finger into severely tenderized veal cutlets like the Blaser did. The difference between the two being that the Blaser had a very pronounced pistol grip with the back of the trigger guard that sits almost vertical where the shooting hand makes harsh contact under recoil. Both bit my cheek, but the Merkel less so. The Merkel was replaced by my first Heym with some trepidation given that the Heym was a .500. Headaches are now a thing of the past, but the Heym taught me that one shouldn't let one's tongue stray between upper and lower teeth if one doesn't want to taste blood

Focus on shooting, and don't be sloppy about it

I still have my Merkel in 9.3x74R and I love shooting it!!!! No pain or unpleasant experiences at all with it. It loves Barnes 250 grain TSX and regulates beautifully with them. I know the stock is maybe a little short for me but it fits well enough given the recoil levels generated.

One wonderful little trick I've also learned is to revere the use of sissy pads! A good PAST recoil reducing pad works wonders. I cut off the flesh coloured bra strap crap that it comes with ( and never seems to fit properly) and I had my elderly mom sew the pad to the inside of a fishing vest!!!! Presto!!!!! Tender shoulders are a thing if the past!!!!!!

You guys that shoot big bores in competition, where you might burn through a prodigious amount of ammo in an afternoon certainly have my respect!!!!! Recoil is a tough thing to come to terms with and I'm not confident I'd fare well with repeated and incessant pounding!!!