I have both a 1886 Winchester in .45-70 and a trap door Springfield. When I hunted, the Springfield was my favorite deer gun , unless I had to walk a long distance in which case I would go for a lighter BLR. I am so slow I never got off more than one aimed shot anyway so there was little point to a repeater.
It is a great cartridge, and still a good one for <100 yds (or farther if you don't mind picking a cloud to aim at).
I've only fired two .45-70's: an 1886 Winchester (Browning replica, with a long, heavy barrel) and a Springfield trapdoor saddle-ring carbine. I fired the 1886 Winchester first, and it was pretty comfortable. Then I fired the trapdoor carbine, and I thought the darned thing was going to jump out of my hands.
I imagine lots of cavalry troopers had bruised shoulders...