Most severe recoil I ever experienced was a .458 Winchester Magnum, full length in a custom XP-100 handgun. It wasn't too bad with the light 350 gr cast bullets, but with the 500 gr FMJ load, it torqued your elbow into the ground and went way past vertical. Shooting creedmore, resting it on calf and thigh. I tried two of the "light" cast loads. One of the full house 500 gr loads was enough for me. I don't think anyone would want to try to shoot it offhand, at least not without a helmet!