Real recoil is simple math involving

The rifles weight
projectile wight
projectile velocity
powder charge weight

Plug that info in here and you will calculate recoil

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

How the stock fits you. The quality of the recoil pad, muzzle breaks, etc, deteremine how you feel it.

Most people don't really want the truth.

They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.