What level does recoil become painful.

Wish I would have stuck ceterus parabus in the original post.

OK lets add:

using a ar15 platform firing from

.17 rimfire up through 450 beowulf.

AT what point would recoil become uncomfortable.

The concept that it depends on weapon is valid, but the issue I was shooting for was what a lot also posted, what level is reached where shooting it is just not something you want to do or could do over a sustained rate of fire.

to head off amount of ammo lest say firing 20 rounds within 5 minutes.

All else held ceterus parabus.

I am quite capable of firing .308 until I get bored of doing so out of my ruger GSR. Using a ar 10 or a m14 would be easier due to the effect of a semiauto recoil system.

Oh, and lets not skip on using compensators / other recoil reducing items.

I guess what I was looking for was is one had to pick up and use a rifle, and there were any number of calibers in the same rifle type, which would be the choice made.

All things being equal and assuming anything short of dangerous large game such as brown bear etc, I would choose .308 or 30 06.

Others probably would choose the 22LR.

There is no shame in knowing your limitations, there is potential danger in not.

Thad