Stick to established load charts and keep the pressure below 40,000 cup, and you should be fine.  The lighter the bullet, the higher the velocity, and the more kick you'll feel.  I shoot 165 grain spitzers (38.6 grains of IMR 4064 - around 2250 FPS) out of my 1898 cutdown sporter, and 220 grain round nosed (40.0 grains of IMR 4350 - around 1900 FPS) out of my 1898 rifle.  Believe it or not, the 220s are relatively mild on the shoulder... and zillions of game - large and small - were taken with Krags shooting 220 grain bullets!