Question: is 45 70 recoil that bad?
Answer: 45-70 recoil, even with a 520 grain bullet, is not a big deal if you shoot standing up. It's slow, so it just pushes you back. Hardly even noticeable, believe it or not. Shoot the same load from the bench, and you can get a bruised shoulder, depending on where you brace it against your shoulder.