The R-700 has more recoil because it has a shorter barrel. It also has more mobility than the M-40. It doesn't make sense tho, becasue in real life, the longer the bnarrel is, the faster the bullet moves because the expanding gas from the gun powder has longer to drive the bullet before it disperses in the air around the barrel. I hav an R-700 in real life, but in a different cartridge than the game.
Stopping power with the M-21 is the best tho. One shot per kill if you aim at chest or head, and fastest fire rate of the sniper rifles.
PLEASE READ THIS ALL SNIPERS