I took a M94 Trapper off a gunsmiths hands after he had replaced the original barrel which some nut had rebored to take 454. I have no idea how much 454 ammo the carbine may have swallowed, but it does just fine with a usual diet of 300 grain Ruger loads. I don't know how many times I've fired it "heavy" but it must be more than 2000 and less than 4000. It's a fine, strong gun. I don't see a need to a recoil pad with the little cartridge in a carbine, but then maybe that's because I often also shoot a #1 in 45-70 which has a very minimal recoil pad.