With my 20 pound Ferret 50 BMG I was able to shoot it off my shoulder standing up. The recoil was no worse that a 12 gauge slug gun. I had a shark grill muzzle break installed on it. It had a 18 inch barrel. The only thing that bothered me was the muzzle blast. I had to wear a towel around my face because the hot gasses were being forced back to my face and rushing up my nose. Not enough to burn or hurt you , but enough to not want to shoot it with out some kind of face protection. But my 30 inch Hesse did not do that. It was a blast shooting it. The 50 BMG is designed as a bench or ground shot gun. Yes the more weight the less felt recoil, but a good muzzle break will do wonder's for the felt recoil as well.