A slightly short LOP makes for a faster handling rifle or shotgun
Spot on here.
Ive always hated the newer rifle and shotgun stock LOP's. Seems everything now is set up for shooting scopes off a bench or rest, and adding a recoil pad is just insult to injury.
Most of the older (pre late 60's, early 70's) rifles, especially those stocked for open sights, had what I consider a proper LOP, around 12-13". Most of your military rifles have the same, including the AK's, which are often mistakenly called "short".
If you shoot from field positions, or snap shoot at all, or plan too, youre much better served with the shorter LOP's, and thats for year round shooting too, not just winter. Once you get used to the shorter LOP, everything else is instantly noticeable (and pretty much sucks) when you shoulder the gun.
These days, I the first thing I usually do with anything that doesnt come with what I consider a proper LOP, is ditch the recoil pad (seems everything comes with one now, even the guns that have little if any recoil), and replace it with a butt plate. A nice checkered steel butt plate would be the best, but its hard enough finding a rubber or plastic one these days. You'd think the gun makers would at least offer one as an after market option, but most dont. Brownells, or the old junk box down at your gunsmith, or maybe the gun shows, are usually your only chance at finding one. And then you still usually have to fit them.