I have that fullsize Mossberg 590 assault type, I like shooting it, and every once in a while, I shoot 3in magnums. I don't like those. One kinda fun thing I do is shooting it one handed, on normal loads, it's stout but not bad, low-recoil loads are a breeze. Dummy me decides to try going one handed with the magnums. After a lot of shooting, my arm is already tired, holding the shotgun properly isn't the easiest thing in the world, but I thought "ya' know, what if the shtf, and I HAD to shoot it one armed with magnums, I better try it once". I'm an idiot. So, I load two shells, chamber one, steady my arm and fire. The gun didn't recoil up, it came straight back, the pretty fireball kept my mind off the pain for a second, and then it hit, it wasn't *that* bad, I know there are worse things. I shot a second magnum just to drive to point home. My arm was bruised for about a week. My brother chimes in.. "My turn...". I warn him, he's had hairline fractures in his wrists, they are already compromised.
"Nope, I'll be fine, besides, I can beat you in an arm-wrestling match, so I'm sure I can handle it."
I have difficulty arguing with stupidity. "It's not the same, this is a lot of force, it abuses your whole arm, but the wrist is the first stop." I tell him.
"Naw, it can't be that bad, I just saw you do it."
"Yes, it is that bad, please, just try birdshot or some low-recoil ammo..."
"Nope."
"It's your funeral." And with that, I hand him the shotgun. He only learns by doing, he says, this'll be some lesson. I made sure there was only one shell in the gun, I kinda knew what would happen. As he readied the gun, I took my place behind him, ready to catch my gun. "Ch-Cha-Thwacka---THWOOOOM". That same sound. In that instant, he fired, his left side recoiled heavily from the blast, his arm gave out, and sure enough, the shotgun gingerly found its way into my arms. "Are you okay?" I ask... His reply was something along the lines of Mmgrff-fgggrrr-unnghh. I set the gun down and took a look at his wrist. It was fine, he had a full range of motion, but I knew a nasty bruise would form. I asked him if he'd like to try it again, he just looked at me and kinda growled.