Dunno if this experiment has been discussed before but here goes:
Quote
It is an unfortunate circumstance that no pistol, unless enormously heavy, could be made to fire the Martini-Henry ammunition, the recoil being so great that no man's wrist could stand it. Mr. Reilly, the gunmaker, I understand, tried it, and the man's wrist was nearly broken.
[Journal of the Royal United Service Institution, Volume 22, 1879]
Markus