Actual felt recoil is all about gun fit...
If a gun fits you right, felt or perceived recoil is less, than in a gun that does not fit you well.
Case in point:
My uncle had 2 Rem. 760 pumps on 30-06, identical in every way. One you could shoot all day, no issue. The other kicked the living snot out of you. The one that kicked the snot out of you, had actually been modified by someone that DID NOT know what they were doing, and it affected how the gun sat in the crease of your shoulder, and also affected the angle of your head to see through the scope.. almost imperceptible adjustments had to be made... but it was enough that you did not want to shoot that gun more than a couple of times...
Guys want magnums, then complain about the flinching and how much it hurts to shoot... if YOU GET A GUN THAT FITS, unless you are shooting an elephant gun, there is really no need for a muzzle brake to reduce felt recoil.... My .338 wm fits me to a tee... I can shoot 20 - 30 rounds off a bench no problem. No flinching, no nothing... oh, and NO muzzle brake...
