Felt/percieved recoil is very much influenced by stock design, and also by construction.
Many rifles with fiberglass stocks seem to have less recoil. The stock seems to "absorb"
some of the energy.
However, I think the biggest influence is the design. The straighter or classic style of stock definitely has less recoil. I found this out, also by accident, years ago. I had had a Rem.700 BDL 308Win. with its' MonteCarlo style stock, and after selling it I got a Ruger 77 in 308Win. The Ruger was a lot nicer to shoot. Heck, a friend of mine once had a Savage in 338Win.Mag., and with its' straighter stock it felt better than that old Rem.700BDL.
I've since learned to check stock figures. The less drop at comb & heel, the better.
My favorites are the Ruger 77, Winchester Featherweight, and the Remington Mountain
Rifles (I have one in 270Win., a Rem.700 LSS Mtn. Rifle).