Hi Art. I agree. The most obnoxious rifle to shoot off the bench short of my Lott was a friend's Browning Stainless Stalker in .338. We called it the "flying wedge" due to the small surface area of the butt plate.
But, as has been said, it depends on many factors but a main one is ejectate: the volume of powder and weight of bullet. Then of course follows rifle weight and the platform nuances such as drop at comb, surface area of butt plate, and so on. Then there is the very subjective perception of recoil (which like pain) varies a bit from person to person.
I think the most important factor involved in recoil is honesty-with yourself. If you find it next to having tooth pulled you will not shoot well with it; admit it and move on to a cartridge with lesser recoil.
