Compact rifle usually means light weight. Light weight usually translate to heavy recoil. Now they say that a short barrel also has higher gas pressure at the muzzle, thus a good brake will work better with the higher pressure. Where as a long barrel would have lower gas pressure at the muzzle and less control of recoil. I dont have a compact or short barrel rifle. I have a Ferret 50 with a 36" barrel. I have also added a total of 5lbs of lead to help make my rifle heavier. Also a means of reducing recoil. So with scope and the added lead weights, it weighs in about 32 lbs. And I would say that it kicks like a two and three quarter 12Ga shotgun. And as you might guess, this is a bench rifle. So I can tell you it will push me back about 3 to 4" on the bench. So I do have to use a towel under my right elbow to keep from rubbing my hide off. As me how I know, LOL.
All I can say is get a great brake (AR50?).