The only 2-gauge shotguns I've ever heard of have been punt guns. A punt is a small rowboat. Absolutely gigantic shotguns were mounted in those boats. The hunter would quietly paddle up to a flock of waterfowl asleep on the water. At the right time and the punt gun would be fired, throwing a pound or more of shot into the air. Maybe 30, maybe 100 birds would be taken with that one shot.
My point about giant shotguns and detached retinas is that since the shotguns were mounted in the boats, the boats absorbed the recoil. I can't imagine it was fun to hold on for the recoil-induced ride but at least the body didn't directly absorb the blow.
And, yes, some punt guns were proportioned so that they could be fired from the shoulder. I don't, however, believe anybody ever did that. Later punt guns didn't even have buttstocks but were mounted directly to the boats.
Info on punt guns here.
Or if you prefer video with more pictures:
The .577 T-Rex is the new acronym for the old .577 Nitro Express.This is a .577 T REX IIRC owned by the guy that had accuratereloading.com. I'll tell you dangerous game rifle really are not to be shot while seated. Standing benches are what you want when shooting they heavy calibers.
My Africa gun is a 6 pound .416 Remington mag that kicks more then every .500 NE I ever shot. Double are damn heavy guns to have to carry all day. I figured have my gun light because I carried it more then shooting it. The excitement of shooting on something big pretty much cancels the recoil felt @ the time.
I suppose you are right. Firing the big guns is an experience in itself. The really big punishing ones I think relate to the same damage as "shaken baby" syndrome. I still love the gun for what it is not for what it did to me. Like having a wife that swats you occasionally with a frying pan? Too expensive to get rid of and all but impossible to replace. Really expensive to feed like a high maintenance girl friend.Y’all are tough gluttons for punishment.