Over my years of shooting I have had many opportunities to shoot some of the worst recoiling rifle known, at least that is what the owners bragged. I grew up with .348 Winchester in a model 71 that had the narrowest but plate I have ever seen on any rifle, it hurt to shoot even when you had game in the sights, but it did manage to make me less recoil sensitive than many people I have known. About 15 years ago I shot the worst recoiling rifle of my life, 3 shots at a steel plate 1" thick, 500 yards right through, every shot was a killer on both ends. It was a .50 BMG on a custom action, 20 inch heavy barrel (not heavy enough) that weigh in just over 10 pounds.
The gunsmith that built this thing ran it over a chronograph set 50 feet away and got something like 2700fps with a 750 or so grain bronze slug. The recoil was so sharp, it would strip the head cans off your head and make your neck ache, I am sure if you didn't hold it in tight and on the shoulder it would have broken or dislocated something.
I see many other heavy recoilers listed in here that are/were probably much worse than this little .50 BMG, and I can sympathize with those who thought they should try to show how macho they were.
I just have to ask: DID YOU ENJOY OR BENEFIT FROM THE PAIN YOU RECEIVED FROM PULLING THAT TRIGGER? I can honestly say I did not, other than I hit the plate all 3 shots.