I've had the same gun the OP bought for a little over 5 years now. It's a recoiler for sure especially with the 300gr buffalo bore loads. Heavy gun for the hip, but not unmanageably heavy, usually carry it anytime I am bowhunting in Montana or North Idaho, or if bowhunting the extreme NE corner of WA. Yep, most people won't shoot it once they've seen/hear/felt it go off. But it's manageable and accurate for the ranges it needs to be.