Need an opinion or two. I have a neighbor that wants to sell me a Single Shot breach loading Harrington and Richardson 45-70. Is it going to beat me up in the recoil department? Link to picture:
http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/index.php?cat=4&subcat=6#17

if it's the trapdoor copy, you'll have to keep them loads down to 45/70 weak action loads, which means you need to LISTEN to it to go off, rather than feel it. It's NUTTIN

if it's the break open single shot, it's worth about 150 used (in good condition) and you can load it a little warmer..

in either case, it's a slow shove, and zip in real recoil.

both would be fun
jeffe

Shootin: Jeffeosso is right about the price if it is an H&R or NEF Handi-rifle with the hardwood stocks. If the gun is the Buffalo Classic with the longer barrel, checkered walnut stocks and casehardened frame and butt, then $250 would be a good deal. Cabelas sells these new for $429.
I have had both the Handirifle and the Buffalo Classic. With steamy Marlin-level loads, both guns have some recoil, but to me, neither of them matches the recoil of the same loads out of a Marlin Cowboy 1895. Nice thing is that these rifles have the butt attached with a through-bolt, leaving a cavity under the butt plate to fill with birdshot. This takes a lot of the starch of the recoil if you are doing much bench shooting, but of course makes them heavy to hunt with. Nice thing about the .45-70 is that you can load it with 17 grains Unique under the Lee 340-grain cast and plink all afternoon. Or you can load heavy-hitters and send 400-grain JSPs out the spout at 1900 and have your hands full in the recoil department.