45-70

I guess it depends on the gun but my Marlin 1895-S didn't recoil nearly as bad as a 12 gauge slug.

Depending on Amunition used the recoil will be simular with the modern 45-70 loads.300-350 Gr. vs. your 2 3/4 slug loads-non magnum.
At least that is close in my Marlin 18.5 inch Guide Gun

Fireman

It all depends on ammo. I have 2 45/70's my guide gun shooting 350 grain +p+ isn't bad at all. My Encore shooting a 500 grain semi +p is down right nasty. I am just sorry I loaded up 50 rounds of them. I might end up pulling them and taking out a few grains of powder.

Calculating recoil requires knowing the weight of the gun, the weight of the bullet/slug and the weight of the powder charge. If you want a numerical comparison you need to provide the ammo type AND specific gun used so someone can find the weights to do the calculations.

So far...

You have an 870 - but which slugs are you shooting that don't bother you? 2&3/4", 3", 1oz. 1 & 1/4oz ???

You're going to shoot the 405gr. ammo in the .45/70... but which rifle will you shoot them from???

The 405gr. .45/70 will be approx. 24ft/lbs. of recoil vs the 870 with slugs at approx. 41 ft./lbs. of recoil.

Said another way - the .45/70 will be close to the recoil of a really healthy .308 or .30/06 load.

HTH

The felt recoil is also determined by the shape of the butt.

Recoil in the old Trapdoor Springfields with curved steel buttplates, especially in the carbine, is nasty.

If you want a good sledgehammer in the shoulder, get the Federal 300gr Sierra hollow points. I am no slouch when it comes to recoil, but 12 shots out of my Encore is worse the aything I have fired. 12ga slugs are nothing in comparison.

Marlin95;
I have a 1895M (450Marlin) 18.5" barrelled, straight stocked with 14 ports. I also have a 1895 MR (450 Marlin) 22" barrelled, unported, pistol grip stocked rifle.
This doesn't exactly answer your question, but here's the best I can do. My M model regularly smacks me in the chops. It's fairly brutal on my face. My MR packs something like half the whallop against my cheek. The weight difference between the 2 is negligable in that the bbl contour is lighter with the MR than the M, and that the M is ported. It would seem that the M would recoil softer, but it just isn't so. I'd way rather shoot the MR than the M. The MR is considerably quieter in the woods too. I realise that this doesn't make much sense, but this is my experience, owning both rifles, and having shot them both side by side.

I shoot an 1885 Browning in 45-70 and as mentioned the 405 gr. Remington load is a realy pussycat, even with the curved metal buttplate. I'd guess the recoil is 1/2 of my 12 ga. Mossy 500 with slugs.

i dont even notice the recoil of a guide gun when im standing

i enjoy it

That's the key.

.45-70 (except, perhaps, for some of the high-velocity modern loads) is slow, but powerful -- like a strong shove, not a hammer blow. Standing, it's not a big deal at all, since your body flexes with the recoil. Sighting in from a bench, especially with a curved buttplate on a vintage buffalo or military rifle, is brutal.

For sighting in from a bench, I recommend some extra recoil protection, like those gel things that go under your shirt. Winter is a great time to do it, too, so you can wear thick clothes. But standing, regular .45-70 loads are fun to shoot. Just seat the butt against your shoulder, as you would properly do with any long gun.

The Marlin is a pretty lightweight rifle (about 7.5 lbs) and this is why I think the .45/70 has such a reputation for recoil. I have an 1895 22" bbl rifle and I've loaded it from mild to OMG wild. The mild loads are much more fun to shoot and plenty powerful for game. With open sights and deer-sized game, I see no reason to hot-rod the .45-70. It only adds to the recoil with no real benefit in trajectory or game-killing potential. Heavy recoil will only make you develop a flinch.

The part that hurts when I shoot the Guide Gun is the first knuckle on my middle finger. The loop slams pretty hard with 405 hand loads.
Has anyone tried the larger loops for relieving this? After about 6 shots it gets quite uncomfotable.

I am giggling a bit after reading all the responses on this thread. I too went through worrying about ferocious recoil on a 1895 Marlin I had ordered. I was psyching myself out thinking about the whole thing...
Don't sweat it. Does it kick bad? Depends on the load. You don't need the nuclear option loads to shoot deer or black bear for that matter.

Get your rifle fitted with a quality pad like pachmeyer (sp?) or limbsaver and go shoot it. I found sitting at the bench playing around with near max and max loads for my marlin was a true wrestling experience. Stand up and roll with the rifle and it wasn't all that bad at all. I knew I had cut loose a big chunk of lead at absurd speed but easily controllable. When I replace the rifle I sold and I will, it will have a decent pad, no ports (way too loud for the benefit for me anyway) and have at it again.

After all I have about a thousand bullets left so I have to get a rifle to shoot them, no?

Be safe and enjoy the rifle

Patty

Level 1 loadings (factory, trapdoor springfield): Milder than a slug

Level 2 loadings: About the same as a 2.75" slug

Level 3 loadings (Ruger #1 only): Same or more as a magnum slug.

In my experience the guide gun has significantly more recoil than the standard length one.

The recoil will be less for the .45-70 using 405gr. loads.

achildofthesky hits the nail on the head.

If you put a limbsaver on your rifle you can pretty much tolerate anything.

I have one on an encore and shooting very stout leverevolution rounds I can get through about 18 before I am beat. But my shoulder does not bruise.

That is a 7 1/2 pound rifle and it generates over 40 pounds of recoil with those rounds. Anything over 29 pounds gets into the difficult to tolerate category.

Shooting handloads you can make them as stout or as mild as you like.

The 45 70 is a lot of fun to plink with if you have mild loads.