THERE IS NOT A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN RECOIL BETWEEN THE 41 AND 44 MAG. ONE THING FOR SURE, THE 44 MAG WITH 44 SPECIAL AMMO WOULD HAVE LESS RECOIL THAN THYE 41 MAG. Recoil in a handgun has a lot to do with the grips. Houge and Pachmire make grips that really takes the sting out of pistol recoil. With those grips, my daughter shot the 44 mag when she was 13 without any trouble and she is not a big gal.