M88
My first highpower rifle was my grandad's M88, which was willed to me and I started shooting at age 14. The family favorite bullet in .30 cal was 180 gr, brush bucking and knock down power and all that you know. They kicked a kid like me hard. As soon as I got a bit older, I started buying and shooting 150's.
Better, and the rifle liked them a lot more too.
The stock drop issue is well described. Make sure you have the lowest bases and rings you can use. And if all possible, shoot a scope with a small bell 32-36mm max, to minimize the need for higher rings. That may well allow you to get a better cheek weld and avoid getting bit.
The M88 is a grand old rifle, a classic. If you have accuracy issues, check the tension on the odd forearm screw, which ties the barrel to the stock. Not the best system, figuring out an ideal tension (tightness) may help. Also, I shimmed the stock at the tip of the forerm with one thickness of credit card, very subtle, and that solved a walking zero and slinging different bullet weights oddly.
Still hunt grandads rifle lightly, as did my Dad, and bamaboy someday.