Report of a zero tolerance user
I just tried buprenorphine (temgesic) recently at 0.4 mg (0.2 rectal, 0.2 insufflated). I have zero opiate tolerance, but have sparingly used hydro/oxycodone, morphine, pods, hydromorphone, demerol, fentanyl, methadone, and tramadol in the past. It was really enjoyable. With the insufflated route I was surprised to find it personally beat out all of these but hydromorphone, oxycodone, and methadone in terms of euphoria (really not that far behind the latter two at all). I tend not to dose that high with opiates though, instead preferring the more lucid pre-nodding effects (usually combined with other drugs classes to enhance euphoria), and so I'm saying that for me the euphoria was superior to these others at this shallow, up and active, end of the pond. It was far superior most all of these drugs for its duration. There was maybe 12 hours of fairly strong effects, though halfway through I used 30 mg methoxetamine rectally in two 15 mg doses and 30 mg 4-FMA, which may have influenced things -- I also took 4 mg ondansetron ahead of time in case it caused nausea for me. I was also drinking more towards the end. I'm judging the bupe based on the experience prior to dosing these drugs (the addition of the latter drugs improved the euphoria even more, of course). I think aMT would be a great combo drug with it at low doses, though I've read about bupe's mild serotonin releasing properties, so I'd tread with caution (there's a case report of serotonin syndrome from bupe's combination with tricyclic anti-depressants).
I started with just 0.2 mg rectal bupe and a small mixed drink (I almost always use small amounts of alcohol to enhance opiates). After 30 minutes or so of not feeling much I insufflated another 0.2 mg (I had resolved to do no more than 0.4 mg total for the first time no matter what). I started feeling the effects about 10 minutes after the second dose. For about an hour there was nothing but stimulation and not much euphoria. But between 1.5 and 2 hours in it finally developed the warm euphoric noncommittal character that makes opiates so easy to abuse. This long onset makes it unique among the opiates I've tried, and is something to bear in mind. I was on the verge of nodding out starting at about 3 hours in, so I took methoxetamine and 4-FMA around hours 4 and 5 to keep from falling asleep and missing the fun.
The duration will keep me from using it during the work week, so hopefully it'll stay fresh like this. I can see why in Sweden it surpasses the use of ecstasy, GHB, and cocaine (see the wiki page). Part of that is ease of availability compared to other drugs of course, but it's obviously a good high to get that position, too. Sweden is always ahead of the curve, it seems. I think buprenorphine isn't that popular elsewhere because most of the people reporting on its effects are addicts, but the personal experiences of the already addicted and chemically imbalanced are a terrible source of information for judging the recreational potential of any drug. I doubt I'll go over 0.6 mg, ever (I think I'd just fall asleep). I have a lowish tolerance for opiates in general (even compared to the opiate naive), though. Recommendations around various forums that say the non-tolerant should not use more than 1 mg for their first time are sound advice. I can also see how the "with bupe less is more" credo might make a lot of sense. To my mind, these qualities together, along with its partial agonist status, make bupe a good "harm reduction" recreational opioid choice for non-tolerant drug dabblers.