Don't know whether this helps, but my MN 44 with no pad feels like my brother's Lee Enfield (.303).
From my perspective, for the price of a hotel Coke, 10 rounds in my 44 cost about $1.80. Not bad? This was the common ammo which basic soldiers used to push the Wehrmacht from the Russian front, therefore for these superb rifle and ammo values, when I shoot it with the recoil pad (my previous guns were a .22 and M-1 carbine), it's not bad. Doing so I usually have no visible bruise (don't work out except running), and the M-1 Carbine left me with a visible purple bruise. Does that help? The only cheaper ammo for me is .22.
You might want to make a purchase decision soon, if possible. All of my x54R ammo ( four cans) came from "Sportsmansguide.com", and for the last two days or more their Bulgarian HB 300-round cans were sold out. Have not noticed this before, and followed them once or twice each week since December.
A bit higher at Ammoman, but they are very good people and shipping is included in the price.
This is the recoil of really surprising value, while it lasts. Almost all 8mm Mauser and LE ammo costs too much for me to pursue such a rifle, although Samco now advertises 7 mm Mauser ammo for about $180/1,000 rds., which makes me curious as to why the price is so low.