My two cents worth is if you wish to compare different calibre's for recoil the only fair way would be to shoot well fitted rifles of the same make. I have a Merkel .500 that my mate does not like to shoot and says it kicks pretty good compared to his .470 Kreighoff. I didn't think there would be much difference myself, but I am yet to shoot his .470 as yet. I sent my .500 to a very knowledgable double gunsmith in the Territory to do some work and when he test fired it he said it feels more like a .577 than a .500, and said a well made English .500 would never kick that hard. Me? Well I'm just dumb enough not to know any different and have just got used to shooting it now. Another guy I know has a .470 which is just on 9lb, whilst a delight it would be to carry in the bush, he says it kicks a bit for a .470. I think what I trying to say here is we must test like for like to get a true appreciation in felt recoil.
G'day Bos Javanicus,
I'm +1 with you on this notion of comparing recoil the experience from two otherwise same make and model rifles, one in .470 and the other in .500 NE.
With that, rookhawk's calculation of almost 20% difference in recoil, between these two powerful cartridges no doubt, becomes quite relevant.
Not that such a scenario would be easy to line-up, since it requires not one but two, "not found in Wal-Mart" rifles (rather expensive rifles for us blue collar workers).
In my personal experiences with those two cartridges, I can tell pretty much no difference in felt recoil.
However, it is noteworthy that I do not recall firing either cartridge in same make / model rifles.
Here in the Anchorage, Alaska general area, we are blessed with quite a few fellows owning double rifles, drillings, Cape guns and single shots, appropriate to hunting in Africa.
We have at least two organized shoots for these, each year, thanks to the considerable efforts of AH member, Cal Pappas.
Nonetheless, if any two of these chaps has the same but-for-the-caliber rifle, I have not had the privilege of doing such a valid side by side (pardon the play on words) comparison with the .470 vs 500 cartridges (have fired both calibers, more than one or two shots each, from various makers but, underline "various" makers).
Also in furtherance of your above post, I have a Heym 88B, in "only" caliber .458 Winchester but, it kicks like Satan with factory loaded 500 grain ammunition.
It is a beautiful rifle, fancy wood, accurate, etc., but somewhat unpleasant to shoot (at least it is so for my wimpy shoulder anyway).
Then conversely, one of my Alaskan mates here (again Cal Pappas) has a proper London built (or Birmingham?) .500 NE that when I fire it, (with full-house 570 grainers) I experience no such discomfort.
In other words, felt recoil is plenty from Cal's .500 but, not as "plenty" as it is from my .458 Heym.
If both above described rifles were the same make & model, I expect the approximately 20% difference in recoil would be obvious.
As mentioned earlier in this thread, between the two cartridges being considered, if I were not so old and soft now, I would probably prefer the .500 NE.
But, at this stage of my life, personally I'm not as interested in the hard kickers as I once was, (compared to when I thought there was actually more than one African dangerous game hunt in my future).
Now, with the continuing slump in oil prices and at my ripe old age, it does not look promising from me to hunt DG again so, there is no .470 or .500 in my plans, unfortunately.
Fact is, one of these days I will begin working on a 350 to 400 grain load that, can regulate well in my mentioned .458 double, in hopes of considerably lowering that sharp recoil.
Sometimes I even consider possibly some day, trading my .458 toward "Paradox Gun", since I then could use it plenty for grouse and hare around here.
Plus with regulated slug capability, one of these years it might be a pleasure to take it somewhere for boar/deer, etc.
I'm getting off topic here and my stein is looking powerful empty.
Therefore, I had better hush my mouth, and wet my whistle.
Cheers,
Velo Dog.