[Yo-Yo]

But the point is: if a punch won't knock you over, a shot from a pistol probably won't either - at least not from the energy transfer.

The same amount of energy put into the bullet as it exits the muzzle is also put into the pistol and by extension the shooter as recoil.

If the bullet has enough energy to physically knock down a 200 lb man, the pistol has enough energy to physically knock down the 200 lb shooter.

NOTE: oddball pistols like the 460, S&W500, AE50 and others are excluded as they're more of a hand cannon and really not suitable for concealed carry

All of those are included, because they don't physically knock the shooter on his wallet. So they don't impart enough energy to knock a bullet-stopping zombie off if his feet, either.

[FromTheSidelines]

Note that the Earth puts more energy into you every day than a 50 BMG round does. It just does it (via gravity) at a MUCH SLOWER rate.

The recoil you feel is a function very much of the energy over time, and that can allow you to not be knocked over. Energy by itself isn’t the issue, it’s the discharge of energy.

In the case of the prize-fighter versus the 45 ACP, the energy delivery time was about the same. In the case of the Earth’s gravity versus a 50 BMG, they are decidedly not close at all...