Back from the gunsmith. It WAS THE LOCK THAT CAUSED MY GUN NOT TO FUNCTION, S&W 360 PD. Good news, it's easy to remove.
Compared recoil to larger guns is depending on what grips, and how well they fit your hand. With the bigger guns, grips to hands match is MUCH more important then lesser calibers. A 454, 475, or 500 will hurt you, and, be unshootable if the grips don't match your hands. The 360PD is in that category as well, with .357 loads.
I find the 360PD similar to heavy 454 loads in that it's snappy. The 454, and the bigger guns, have a lot more inertia going, since they are considerably heavier, and, this tames recoil. Maybe the same, or more force, but, it's over a longer time, and moving slower then the 360PD.
The problem with the bigger calibers is people try to wring every last bit of speed out of them, and, the added pressure to do that generates way more recoil then the increase in speed justifies.
The good news about the short barreled 454's is that with heavy bullets, they don't loose as much velocity as you would expect. As for buffalobore, I'd call, or email the owner, and see what he recommends in the short barreled version. My educated guess is with the heavy bullets, you'll loose about 100-200 fps a second, going from a 9.5 inch test barrel, to a 2 inch.
OH, I just noticed you have it chronoed, and, thats about right. Now, if you drop the speed to 900-1000 fps, you'll seriously drop your recoil, and increase your bullets ability to penetrate.
The Ruger Alaskan is actually a copy of the Jack Huntington SuperStreetHawk. The SSH was originally done in 454, but, really shines in .500 JRH. I've shot one with a 440 grain bullet going 950 fps, and, a 425 at 1300 fps.
The 440's are incredible, and, the recoil is slightly more then a 44 magnum.
The 425's are about double that, and, will go through about 5 feet of asian buffalo, but, so will the 440's.
That said, if I was going to buy a Ruger Alaskan, and, I since I can't afford
a .500 JRH SSH, right now, I'd look at a .480 Ruger Alaskan, if I could find one. These are VERY popular, and, will also shoot the 420 grain bullets near 1200 fps, all you'll ever need, or want. The 454 operates at 50-60k pressures, even though Tim usually loads to just 40k, because recoil is too much for increase in velocity. The .480 operates around 40k, and, has less snappy recoil, and, can use much bigger bullets then the 454.
Again, the grips have to match your hands, or, in this class of gun, you won't be able to control the gun.
S