Pretty nifty Wolf. I used to love hunting with my 7x30 Waters Contender. I took several buck with that pistol. And afterwards I could put it in my backpack keeping it out of the way as I dragged them to the vehicle or camp.

From what you have described in another thread, I thinks me has one of them. My 4 inch .500 S&W mag loaded hot with 500gr FN Interlocks :D

The recoil impulse and rotational recoil (or lack thereof) in high energy specialty pistols are VERY different than those of revolvers. Even further differentiated when you talk about mid-grip specialties compared to rear grips.

I've fired a compensated 375 JDJ Encore pistol and a compensated 416 Rem Mag 700R bolt pistol which didn't feel as uncomfortable as a Ruger Alaskan 454C with the old Lett style grips - despite having more than twice as much energy in the specialty pistols. They do rise over your shoulder, and a guy has to be careful to recoil up and away from your face, but it's really not as bad as many folks would think.

I get most of my discomfort - or pain - in high recoiling handguns from the rotational recoil slamming the top of the backstrap into the web between my thumb and index finger. With 12" or 14" barrels, especially compensated, specialty pistols just don't recoil in that way - they just want to fold your elbows and slam into your eyebrow straight back. Keeping your wrists firm and elbows firm, and taking the recoil into your shoulders, letting it climb up and over your shoulder non-firing shoulder instead of straight back into your face, you can run VERY powerful rounds out of specialty pistols without discomfort.

When I look back into the archives of my rusty memory I recall when I fired at the time the most "energetic" pistol yet. It was a mid-grip Rem XP-100 chambered in 7mm-08 and non-ported. Getting a verbal threat from my cousin not to drop it I cupped my non-shooting hand under the grip and the back of my shooting hand against the side of an apple tree. At the time I was concentrating on the target, and empty beer can about 75 yards out, and not the outcome of the shot. I gently squeezed the trigger, the pistol barked, and so did the tree. I hit the can and sent it flying and I did hold on to the XP. But the apple tree bark acted like a rasp on the back of my hand depositing some pretty nice slices of skin on its surface!
I keep looking for an XP in 7-08 but ported and at the right price. I'll find one someday.

I guess it depends what you call a fair price, Bronko!!

The first XP100 I bought only set me back $400 or 500 - the 221FB's can still be had for about $800-1000, whereas the more mainstream, more potent rounds seem to go for about 50% more.

For those interested, Savage will still build you a Stryker, even though they're not in the catalog. Just gotta call their custom orders dept. They'll even build you one in 338Lapua mag!! Not sure what they cost today, but 3yrs ago, mine in 284win was $1200, which was only about $300 more than a Savage LRP "custom" action at the time.