I am 5'9" and weigh about 285 lbs. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but I hope to go in a couple of weeks. I hope it doesn't knock the hell out of me too bad, guess I'll have to wait and see. I will let you know how it goes after I shoot it. I have only been really hurt by guns twice in my life. One time I shot a 44 mag derringer one handed and buried the hammer about a 1/2" into the web of my hand between base of thumb and first finger. I was shooting some heavy corbon loads, 330 or 340 grains I think. Looking back , it seemed like the thing to do at the time, (pretty stupid)in my younger years. The other time was when a 460 weatherby 12"barrel of an encore blew off the frame the first time I shot it with full factory loads. After I got the barrel fixed with heavier connecting welds, I shot it twice with my other hand, after left broken wrist and cut finger ligiment healed. I posted that story under ENCORE several weeks ago. I may be silly, but I am actually looking forward to shooting the 700 nitro. Has anybody else ever pushed the limit a little too far and gotten hurt? The encore did stay together for the second two shots,but it still kicked like hell with full factory loads. I have retired that gun to the safe, and after the trouble with my 460 encore, a certain Arizona custom gun maker is no longer making an encore in this caliber.