Among Marlins, I have Cowboy specials in 45 Long Colt and 44-40 and a 45-70 Guide Gun. I have a Browning 1886 in 45-70 and a New Winchester 86 in 45-90, and a Shiloh Sharps 1874 45-70, plus a 1873 Trapdoor Carbine. For an Accurate and Mild load try some light AA 5744 loads with a 400/405 grain LRNFP soft cast bullet. The first time I saw a guide gun, it was a used pair. Two best friends bought them and a couple boxes of ammo and headed for the range. That afternoon, they sold the guns back; one fired twice and one unfired, the recoil was too much for them. I bought my GG about a year later and the store gave me a 5 rounds of Remington factory 300 grain ammo. That is the only factory 45-70 I have ever shot. It was more mild that a 44 Mag in a Marlin I can tell you that! All I can figure is, If all you ever shot was AR-15's and 22 LR's yes 45-70 has a lot of recoil. If you shot 300 Win Mag or similar, you are in for a treat! However If you want recoil, hand load some 400 grain bullets at 1800 to 2200 fps and shoot them out of a guide gun! My Sharps has never tasted anything but Black Powder (and never will!) Depending on which type of 45-70 you have, they can be loaded from 300 grains at about 800 fps (like 45 Colt) up to 500 grains at 2100 fps (like 458 Win Mag). Perhaps it is the most versatile rifle going. If you are not already a reloader, 45-70 is worth buying all the equipment for! It is an easy round to load and cast for. I have some old commercial and old military 45-70 loads in my collection, that are for Goose Hunting and/or foraging- 3 round balls. You can do anything with a 45-70! Ivan
