I get the face slap from some shotguns. The SX3 and the XT Trap do not cause it - no chunk of wood positioned to hit the face. Lots of shots while target shooting reveals the problem soon enough. About any gun with a significant difference in drop from nose to heel can cause it. Taking recoil with the hands is possible, as hip shooters do. I recall once shooting at a target, and feeling little kick as my hands took it all. If I could learn to do that w/o it becoming a type of flinch it could be good.
I do not recall being bothered so much in rifle shooting. Fewer shots involved, and the rifles had much flatter combs than many shotguns.
