No, it's not "pleasant". You can learn to control it and shoot fairly well, but it does take practice. They have a stiff trigger, and keeping the sight on the target UNTIL it goes bang can be a challenge. I am looking to get a new set of grips for mine so I can get my pinky finger on there for more control. It is sharp-recoiling, but not painful with standard pressure loads. With +P, it hurts. There is a sharp frame vibration with every shot with that stuff, and I can't imagine shooting the .357 version. I still carry it almost exclusively in the summer, and I feel confident with it, but this gun moreso than any other requires REGULAR PRACTICE. It is quick to get rusty with!
Jim