I have never heard of anyone having a recoil /latch problem among the DR shooters I know. Some have Beavertails on 470 & 500's as do I....if there is a problem , it is a poorly made rifle. My friend who is a Sports Medicine Doctor says,"ergonomically speaking the Beavertail fits and fills a persons grasping hand better than a splinter.A better grip is achieved by filling the gripping hand and the muscles become less efficient when holding a smaller diameter object". Why do you suppose new makers V/C, Heym, Chapuis etc build DR's with beavertails....there must be a reason beside "style" Watch DVD's currently out on Dangerous Game and you'll see PH's carrying mondern DR's with Beavertails and I have never heard one say "gee I wish this had a splinter" I have shot my Chapuis 470NE well over a 1000 times (can many of you honestly say that ?)and have never had any problems with the forend or anything for that matter. Having shot a few Buff and a couple Elephants with my 470 and I feel I have a better grip on the gun with a Beavertail and its checkering. I have shot Big Bores with splinters and found that because of the barrels smoothness, the gun slides back in my forehand at least a little no matter how tightly I hold the gun. And Beavertails are not "ugly". It is like the old adage says "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"