So subjective however in general an 8.5lbs 338 Win Mag with right stock and 250 gr bullets at 2,650 fps is no where near the felt recoil of a 45-70, 400 gr load from a 6.75lbs lever carbine at 1,950 fps, especially if that lever gun has a straight stock in lieu of a pistol grip stock. You’re roughly looking at mid to upper 30s ft-lbs of recoil for a 338 Win Mag vs mid to upper 40s ft-lbs of recoil for the 45-70. That 400 gr bullet in a light platform with a lever in hand is quite uncomfortable to shoot at 1,950 fps. I’ve shot both from bench work and would much rather touch off 12 rounds of 338 Win Mag in lieu of 6 rounds of the 45-70. But that’s just me.
