Personally I dont think the 50BMG has punishing recoil at all....... The blast from the thing is punishing as hell though.

I have a LH savage syn stocked 338 win mag that weighs 7.5lbs with scope and kicks like a freakin mule. Itll shoot 1.25 all day (if thats how long it takes you to shoot 20rounds) with about anything ive shot threw it and has gone .75 with stuff it likes but I added 2.75lbs to the buttstock and I dont shoot it alot even then.

I will also say that the recoil at 10.25 lbs is about like my 110 8lb 30-06.... its not comfortable off the bench but its not a killer.
Ive got a 11lb 300 Win mag that I would rather shoot than either of them off a bench.

as far as long range I think there are better rounds but its not a bad choice.

Larry