I have the .450 and you are right about the recoil. We also have .375 in Ruger #1 and it is about the same though the recoil seeems to be different the .450 seems to be more of a shove where the .375 is more of a sharp psuh. If you handload I would get the .45/70 if not I would get the .450. I got mine because I didn't want to handload and I also wanted something different. Any of them would make a excellent elk rifle for heavy timber.