There's more to "recoil" than the push on the shoulder.

I'm a not what I would consider a recoil sensitive shooter, as i've owned, loaded for and shot everything in the 416s and 458lott. I say i'm not recoil sensitive b/c despite the recoil, i could shoot them well, i.e. never developed any flinches and could print good groups. Got bruised, but never got "scared of" them.

Now, I buy my first double (470 of course) and it wasn't that the recoil was that much more violent than the 416s or the 458lott, but what was different was that it gave me an instant, micro-migrane headache that lasted for about 4-seconds everytime I pulled the trigger.

Well, i didn't have that gun too long. I could shoot it well, but it was clearly more than my body (brain) could stand.

The 470 is a great round, but I'm with ray here - a 450/400 can be built in a lighter rifle with more managable recoil. Even if you become a professional elephant hunter, it'll suit the job just fine.

It's not about "how much recoil you can handle" but "how much recoil should have to handle?"