First off the Rem. 405 is considered a mild recoiling round that is quite effective. I personally find that recoil is a subjective issue and the best way for each one of us to answer that question is to fire the rifle. Just use good shooting techniques and you will find that recoil is not the beast some will have you believe that it is.

 

Done

 

Its like salsa. Not hot to me but it might be to you. A nice rubber butt pad helps a lot over a brass butt plate!

 

Personnaly I don't think there is any comparison except from nothing for the 44 mag and a good push for the 45-70. The 44mag is a pistol cartridge which when fired in a rifle has very little felt recoil. Now this is just my opinion though.

 

In my somewhat limited experience there is quite a bit of difference.

 

In my somewhat limited experience there is quite a bit of difference.[/QUOTE

I agree--- my 1972 manufactured Marlin 1895 has the curved buttplate with no recoil pad. Even with 300 grain factory loads, it inflicts pain after a few shots. It was hard for me to find a recoil pad to fit that curved butt, so I bought a slip-on limbsaver pad that works wonders. My 1894 in .44mag is very tame by comparison.

 

I just bought some Remngton Express .45-70 300 gr for my first "man's rifle" experience. I'm expecting recoil similar to a 12 ga heavy load, maybe a bit more, or the 30.06 I fired in the Army. In my case, without a scope to worry about, should be a non-event except for the RUSH and the BANG!

 

Ttypical 44 Magnum rifle recoil is roughly 11 foot-pounds.

Typical 45-70 runs from 19 to 38 foot-pounds depending on how hot the load is. For my money, I'd go with the slow moving 405 grain load in the 45-70.

There is a difference and it would be noticable; whether you were able to tolerate it or not isn't the question.

 

Tater-

I had the impression that Rem Ex in 300 gr would be a tad lighter in recoil than their 405 gr. Did I have it basaquards?

 

People need to stop worrying about recoil and concentrate on the important things like, stance, posture, sight picture, breathing, trigger control and the target. All these things are esential to good shooting, and you can't shoot well if you're thinking or worrying about recoil.

Mark.

 

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Mark nailed it, unless you want to make a dangerous game rifle out of it recoil is not an issue. Worry about something else.

 

Well most arent going to believe this but my 44 mag. kicks worse than my 45-70. Now this is a comparison between 2 7.5" pistols. One a ruger super blackhawk 7.5" barrel the other a BFR 45-70 7.5" barrel both revolvers the 45-70 a 5 shot the 44 mag a 6 shot.

 

Hey Tom. What's the weight difference between the two?

Mark.

 

its like comparing a 12ga and a 28ga both worth wile but totally different animals.

 

What are you using the rifle for? Off the bench I hate recoil. In the woods I never feel the gun go off. My Simms limbsaver works wonders. I shoot some +p+ PMC loads that are stout. Yet when a deer moves into "shooting" position I feel nothing. Don't be afraid. Just shoot it and love it.

 

I actually don't have a big problem with recoil, I don't love it or anything but it usually doesn't bother me, especially not while hunting with adrenaline pumping, I was mostly curious as to the difference because I have never shot a 45/70 and neither of my friends have one either. Thanks for all the answers guys.

 

The advise given is well taken and appreciated.

I've been around guns most of my life, including lots of squirrel hunting with a 12 gauge single shot 'volunteer' shotgun; the old Volunteer kicked plenty hard against my 13 year old frame, but in the woods I never felt it. Other 12 gauge guns followed for hunting and 'turkey shoots', and I never gave recoil a thought. Qualifying in Army basic training was worrisome because of tales about the .30-06's recoil; as it turned out the recoil was fine, but closing the bolt was mighty hard on a slow-moving thumb.

A fair number of comments about .45-70 recoil are sprinkled about, so there is some level of mystique attached to this caliber. I'm not skeered about getting a bloody nose or a black eye, but I am curious about what to expect. My curiosity, like some others, even goes to ammo selection.

My first .45-70 arrives tomorrow, so I need ammo. I ordered a generous supply of Remington Express 300 grain today thinking it was a good intro load to break me in with. After the order, folks were advising here that 405 grain is "milder". My shooting will be to punch paper, so there won't be a critter in the sights to blank out the recoil. My interest is the enjoyment of a great shooting big bore rifle while minimizing the discomfort. I'll try to change the ammo order first thing tomorrow unless there really isn't a significant difference in recoil between 300 and 405.

I know this question is a bit like grading hot sauce, but anyone who has shot 300 gr and 405 gr probably formed an opinion about the difference in recoil. Please help this "girlyman" find the most pleasant round to shoot.

 

The advise given is well taken and appreciated.

I've been around guns most of my life, including lots of squirrel hunting with a 12 gauge single shot 'volunteer' shotgun; the old Volunteer kicked plenty hard against my 13 year old frame, but in the woods I never felt it. Other 12 gauge guns followed for hunting and 'turkey shoots', and I never gave recoil a thought. Qualifying in Army basic training was worrisome because of tales about the .30-06's recoil; as it turned out the recoil was fine, but closing the bolt was mighty hard on a slow-moving thumb.
A fair number of comments about .45-70 recoil are sprinkled about, so there is some level of mystique attached to this caliber. I'm not skeered about getting a bloody nose or a black eye, but I am curious about what to expect. My curiosity, like some others, even goes to ammo selection.

My first .45-70 arrives tomorrow, so I need ammo. I ordered a generous supply of Remington Express 300 grain today thinking it was a good intro load to break me in with. After the order, folks were advising here that 405 grain is "milder". My shooting will be to punch paper, so there won't be a critter in the sights to blank out the recoil. My interest is the enjoyment of a great shooting big bore rifle while minimizing the discomfort. I'll try to change the ammo order first thing tomorrow unless there really isn't a significant difference in recoil between 300 and 405.

I know this question is a bit like grading hot sauce, but anyone who has shot 300 gr and 405 gr probably formed an opinion about the difference in recoil. Please help this "girlyman" find the most pleasant round to shoot.

Hey Swamp,

For extended sessions at the bench, I place a 25lb. bag of shot, between buttstock, and shoulder. This allows me to tap the sights, or spin the dials, without enduring a tenderized shoulder. When dialing in factory or warmer ammo, let the barrel cool after the third shot. With mild lead loads, this is not an issue.

Hope this helps,

Later, Mark

 

I'm not an especially big fan of abusive recoil.
The 405s bring a smile to my face.
It really is a shove rather than a kick.
Never shot the 300s, so I can't say anything about them.

If you shoot your first round standing up, you'll have that big 45/70 grin too.

 

I just compared 357, 44 mag and 444 marlin this weekend.

357 in the rifle feels close to 22 mag and the 44 jumps more and is lauder but from the bench doing 30 shots still no issue. My 444 with LEs on the other hand got my attention even if only did 4 shots. I would compare that to a light rifle in 30-06. Not a problem in a hunting situation but not something I would run several boxes through in one outing.

 

I've only shot my 1895 a couple dozen rounds, but the recoil with 350 gr. Hornady bullets feels more like shooting a 50 Cal. muzzle loader. It is a push rather than a smack. Now if you really want to feel a smack, try shooting 3" Federal slugs out of a pump shotgun at the bench. Thank God N.Y. went to rifles.

 

You hit the nail on the head with the 12ga slugs. Son of a gun they hit hard! The 45-70 is a walk in the park compared to that.

 

When I first bought my 1894 I bought a box of 240gr Federal and those seemed to kick harder, or at least my shoulder thought so. It would hurt afterwards while that does not happen shooting my 45/70, even with 405 gr bullets. The 44 magnum was akin a 18 oz hammer striking my shoulder whereas the 45/70 was more of a shove. Why this would be I don't know. 1894 is a lighter gun, maybe the recoil, while less when measured in ft pounds of energy, occurs in a shorter time frame than the 45/70 so it is more of a jab. Sort of like the energy absorbed of a person falling and being caught by a rope compared with the same person caught by a bungee cord.. :hmmmm:

 

It is also a walk in the park compared to 12 guage 3.5" mag. number 5 turkey loads too. Those things will stand you up and make you pay attention.

 

Start out with some HOT handloads first. After that your factory stuff will seem like .22s.

 

Start out with some HOT handloads first. After that your factory stuff will seem like .22s.[/QUOTE

I hear ya Gater, but us non-reloaders have to go at it the other way. Start out with factory stuff and work up the power scale as hand loading skills and experience allow. Two observations from yesterday: them .45-70 bullets look MEAN and the bore looks HUGE. I think my girlyman days are numbered!

 

Shot a 45-70 last weekend. Was expecting more recoil but was surprised. Wish I had one in the heavy 1894.