Why I Don't Miss my .338 Win Mag Question

[RustyPin]

338 Federal, 338 RCM, have less case capacity, though 338WM is a very efficient Cartridge. Less powder and a heavier Stock will help mitigate recoil. Where is my 264-TC rifle....

 

[drop_point]

I have a 338 win mag 700 BDL, its pretty lightweight. Federal 250gr partitions, i do not find the recoil bad at all. Same gun 700 classic in 35 whelen with a custom 250 gr solid from a-square hurt some. Just felt sharper to me.
All them were milder than my heavier 376 steyr Using 270 gr at 2600.
My mild loaded 458 win mag has alot more push than any of those others but it is atleast a lb or two heavier, 400 gr at 2129 fps. But it aint sharp so its very manageable. The 300’s at 2450-2500 were alittle sharp but not as sharp as the 376 steyr or so it felt.
So i guess its all relative to what the shooter had experienced. Talked to a guy at the range who said the 338 was the worst gun he ever shot. So idk.

Weird, I was shooting a .35 Whelen and a .338 Winchester Magnum side by side one day, similar set-up rifles, and the .35 Whelen felt more like a shove and the .338 like a sharp jab. The Whelen was 225 Accubonds over Varget around 2750 fps. I don't remember the load in the .338 Winchester Magnum, but I didn't enjoy it.

 

[FNSafari]

A slower powder may change the recoil impulse of a hard kicking rifle.

 

[Ray123]

I just shot my stock factory, no brake, Ruger 338 Win Mag yesterday, testing 275 gr Speer with various powders to seek the highest velocity...got almost 2700 fps with that bullet, and RL 26. Shooting from the prone turned rather brutal after 20 shots,...finished with 30 rounds and a bruised shoulder, and I'm 72 yrs old. The 416 Rigby with heavy hand loads is by far the worst recoiling rifle I own, when pushed close to 416 Wby performance.
My 338 Win Mag has killed more game animals than all my other rifles put together, ya don't seem to notice the recoil when shooting at game. I've even used it on small game before hunting season to get used to rifle, recoil, and build confidence. Most all my shots at game are 100 yds or less a fast handling 338 with 2-7x scope set on 2X is all I need 98% of the time. The 338 Win Mag kills extremely well, and instantly. So I sold my 7mm mag, which didn't kill any faster than the old 7×57 Mauser, in my experience. My other favorite is the 350 Rem Mag, 250 gr at 2625 fps 20" barrel Model 7 modified to feed 2.9" cartridges and a light low power scope, accurate and deadly at close range...big bullets make huge exit wounds, with less bloodshot meat. The lesser calibers will kill, even the 22 LR, 17 Remington, or 223 kill deer...I prefer not use them.