ORIGINAL: James B
Of course it depends on the rifle but the recoil of the 450 Marlin with a 350 grain Bullet at 2200 fps is 37.2 lbs. About the same as the 375 H&H. Also about the same as 45-70's loaded to that level. While these nunbers don't tell it all, it does tell you something about the 45-70's ability to recoil. Factory 45-70 loads recoil at about 17-18 lbs.
Ok, smartie pants now tell us what it is for little bit lower to like 2000fps? Or like my 45-70 with a 300gr at 2100fps.
Well, let me put it this way. My gun don't hold a candle to my old 300Rum or my 870 with a 3" slug. Maybe that will help you understand.