This is a fine cartridge for the NEF. With the lower pressure RIMMED cartridges, the NEF does not have the extraction problems sometimes present with high pressure cartridges. This is true of the Hornet, 30-30, 357, 44 and 45-70.

As for reloads the NEF will handle the Marlin Level loads with no problem and many load it near the Ruger levels. However the Marlin levels are about all the recoil that you might want in the NEF. They are not very heavy. The NEF is built to handle pressure levels of the 30-06 and 35 Whelen so recoil may be the limiting factor with the NEF. I have the 32 inch Buffalo Classic and the 22 inch Handy rifle in 45-70. I shoot mostly Black Powder loads in the Buffalo Classic.