when I bought a bond arms Back up before I shot the gun I was concerned about the recoil. I was amazed how manageable the recoil was shooting .45 acp and .410 2.5inch shells out of such a little gun. If you can handle the recoil of a 1911 .45 you can handle one of these. Bond Arms guns are well built and built to last thats the first thing people say when they pick it up. I do suggest when you buy one though you practice alot because the trigger pull takes a while to get use to. One can certainly say I’m a bond arms man now!!