[dayman]

It's been a few years since I took dynamics, but I do remember that there's a difference in force (measured in lbs) and mass (measured in lbs for every-day use, but usually measured in "slugs" for the purposes of physics). A force of 250lbs would not feel like a 250 weight pushing against you.
This is one of the reasons that the metric system is so vastly superior the the English-standard system. Newtons and kilograms are less ambiguous.

The English standard Gravity constant is 32.2ft/s^2, so a mass of 250lbs yields a force of ~8000lbs. Therefor, working backwards, a force of 250lbs, would yield a mass of less than 10lbs. So it's not as if you'd have anything approaching 250lbs of mass coming back into your shoulder. Again, the English standard system is really really dumb.
The average person can punch with ~600-900lbs of force, so a rifle recoiling with 250lbs of force is definitely going to sting, but it's not at all as strong as it seems, and is well within the realm of possibility.
(you've just been fizziksed)


As far as the revolver goes, do whatever floats your boat. Polished SS and ivory(or synthetic) is a nice looking combination. Worst case scenario you have a fantastic barbeque gun, and can throw on the rubber grips for the range.
Post pictures when you're done.