[Zancarius]

> You're right about my numbers being off - I was killing time on a long flight and it's been a while since I've shot a .45 (mostly because I have small hands.) But the general principle remains: the slide shoots backwards with equal force to the projectile.

Eh, it doesn't really matter, IMO!

Realistically, no matter what the math might say, felt recoil is still a subjective spectrum (within reason, obviously too much force is going to hurt), because two people can fire the same gun and have different reactions.

Although, you definitely wouldn't catch me with a .500S&W ;) There comes a point when it's too much gun to be enjoyable.

My father had a .454 Casull once. He sold it because he could only go through a couple cylinders before a blister would wear on his hand through gloves. I've since borrowed his philosophy: If a gun hurts a bit too much to be fun, there's no point owning it!