[Canuck Bob]

I suggest establish your length of pull first. Try different rifles and keep track of the length with a tape measure. Measure from trigger to middle of the buttplate. I wear a fall weight jacket and watch carefully for a tendency to snag the toe, top of buttplate, in the arm pit. Some rifles come with spacers for easy adjustment. I find LOP the least critical. My favorite rifle measures 14 1/4", Marlin 444S, but shorter LOP works down to 13 1/2", Winchester 94.

Check the location of your trigger finger in relation to the trigger for grip fit. I like a fit that is at least a 90 degrees for my tip and trigger. A little long compensates for gloves. I don't like one that fits short yet some do.

If possible choose a rifle that has different ring heights easily available, specially low. Check to make sure the bolt doesn't require a high scope mount for eyepiece clearance like a CZ 527 can sometimes. Avoid extremes of big glass.

Shouldering the rifle with closed eyes is also my technique. It works well to establish general feel and fit. If you open your eyes and the rifle is pointed skyward and hard left or right compensate and note how it feels, very revealing.

The comment about compromise fit is the best advice. Get it close and shoot a lot. I always learn to adjust to a rifle that fits close. Scope mounting is a different question but is the final step for good fit, sadly after the purchase.

As far as felt recoil I know a 7MM-08 will feel a bunch milder than a 7MMRM.