As an experienced shotfunner, you're probably aware of this.. but since it hasn't been mentioned, it's worth bringing up.
When it comes to managing recoil on any heavy-hitting gun, stock fit is of great importance. And as it goes, many of the old milsurp rifles were designed for shooters, that on average, had smaller stature than the average American male of today.
The Mosin-Nagants are a good example of this. I'm about 6'3" - pretty average, among taller people - and it's a struggle to hold a 91/30 with any decent amount of control or advantage over the gun. When your arms are all bound up, there's a great loss of mechanical advantage over the recoiling rifle, when the ideomotor reflex kicks in to do its thing.
So if fit is less than ideal, you might consider fashioning a non-permanent stock extension, and then installing a good pad over top of it. In my case, the effect of moving the action a couple inches further ahead plays an equal role, at least, as fitting a quality pad.
I can vouch for the Limbsaver products - excellent products that live up to their claims.
-L