I'm curious if you have an idea as to how much power you are getting from that load you have used for elk.

I've had elk once, and given a chance to hunt them I'd have to give it a go if I could figure out how to pack it back out! Best tasting critter I've had. Right up there with axis.

What would you compare the recoil of your load to?
A 375 H&H is probably more than I'd care for.

That is all I use in my sidelocks and even percussion inlines. But you need to use #11 Mag caps. With a sidelock you need to tap the 3f powder over under the nipple in really cold weather.

I shoot 90 grains of t7-3f in my LRH with a 460 grain lead Bull Shop, i also use a shot card under the bulet to keep the T7 from melting the bottom of the bullet. It is a sharp recoil but something less that the 300 win mag and mybe comparable to a Tikka Light 270 win.

"BINGO"

I was using a heavy sidelock. That will help with recoil. The GPH you mentioned will ne lighter on recoil than the Deer Stalker, but you have to carry the weight for the whole hunt too. Maybe the recoil would be easier. You can wear a shoulder recoil pad. The old style curved steel butt plates are not kind on recoil, but do support the gun better for offhand shots. If it doesn't bother you. You could grind the stock flat and install a recoil pad. (gulp!)

Also, real black powder has the softest recoil. More of a push than a sharp punch. T7 has a sharper recoil than Pyrodex. AAP has a softer recoil, but I don't feel it's very consistent in fps which hurts accuracy.

So, your rifle, powder and bullet choice will determine the recoil. Those big lead conicals will wake you up, but you only feel it for a little while.

I forgot to mention. I have a torn up shoulder, and a very sensitive cheek from an operation. Plus, i'll be 70 this year.

I'd still rather shoot a muzzleloader. Recoil be damned!

sabot: What twist is your barrel? I'm guessing it's faster than 48?

Muley: I keep coming back to the Deerstalker, though I'm strongly considering the Country Hunter due to the faster twist since I would like to be able to use sabots. And I haven't exactly discounted the Deerhunter. I like the more modern stock and fiber optic sights.
I'm fairly stuck on a handy compact rifle, though I keep looking at Lyman's Trade Rifle for the increase in velocity. Is the increase even enough to consider it worthwhile?
The recoil isn't a great big deal, especially if it's only 1! Can always practice with a milder load I suppose. I never even notice when I shoot a deer with a 270 Win.

What was the original 45-70 load? Muzzle velocity? 70 grns (2F or 3?) under what?

The 45/70 used pretty heavy bullets. It had some wallop! More efficient in a cartridge too.

The Lyman Deerstalker is an excellent choice for a hunting gun. It won't do well with sabots though, but there's lots of other bullets to choose from.

I like it better than inlines. Real wood and a sidelock. What's not to like?

sabot: That's a real monster load! There's not been a pig big enough around here that I'm aware of that would require something like that. That's what I would call loaded for bear!
I tried looking at Bull Shop bullets noticing the one you listed must have a fair BC, but the site isn't working right.

I must agree that they do have a grand flair!
What little I find in modern bullets is mainly Hornady FPB's and Powerbelts, of which I'd try out the FPB's first. It seems they get much better velocity. I'm guessing it's a better seal?