" when it comes to recoil but the Garand is a sweetheart in that respect." To alleviate any concerns about "punishing recoil", my Drill Sergeant would take his M14 and place the buttplate on his crotch, then fire a few rounds downrange.
I always supected he was wearing an armored jock, but couldn't prove it...
You wrote about your D.I. firing an M14 with its butt on his crotch.
I tried the grenade launcher of a M203 just to the side of my jewels. I din't do it a 2nd time. I Thank G-D I didn't put it on my jewels. Talk about young and dumb.