The recoil on the .357 is almost not existent, and the .44 mag not much more. Both have less recoil than my AR15 IMO.
Another cool feature is that that heavy barrel is one big heat sink. I can hold the barrel to reload without burning my hand. Can't say that about any other rifle I own
Oh, and as to the question about the orange ball - look up Do All Outdoors, and it's called Impact Seal. (I have a new one on the floor beside me LOL) I have a ball and a block, and really like em for practicing target acquisition and changing point of aim as the ball gets further and further away. Really helps to work out the sight picture of the ballistic arc of handgun rounds out of a longer barrel.