RE: scope coming back and hitting you in the face
Closest I have ever come was with a Remington 700 in 270 with a Nikon Buckmaster. I was shooting at a funny angle to begin with. Didn't cut me but it did hit.
I have to be honest, I didn't like the eye relief on the Buckmaster. I also found eye placement was critical. Much clearer, to me, than my VariX-II