In dealing with a large hog, I would not want to be de-fanging the .44 Mag by dropping down to a .44 Special.
The idea is to use the best terminal ballistics reasonably possible in the two magnums and/or the .45 Colt, not to make recoil more tolerable by loading down.
I have the stock pad on my .357, I have a much better one on the .44, and I have the stock hard synthetic buttplate on the .45.
The .357 doesn't kick enough to bother replacing the stock pad.
The weight of the long .45 keeps the hard "plate" from being too objectionable with most stiffer .45 Colt loads.
The .44 definitely benefits from a good piece of rubber.
The .45-70 Guide Gun absolutely requires one with Garrett buffalo stompers.
Recoil isn't a major problem for me, but I disbelieve in punishing myself unduly & do strongly believe in making a particular gun more comfortable to shoot if higher levels of recoil are involved.
That includes rifles and handguns.
My .44 Mag Marlin has been customized FOR close-up brush work on animals that may need to go down right NOW & the punch is noticeable, but not intolerable, in firing many hard-kickers through it.
While I like the 92 patterned guns, I would simply have no interest in shooting one in .44 Mag with that steel buttplate.
Nor would I have any interest in reducing its power by dropping down to .44 Specials in it.
Denis