Idaho--Your points are well argued. I'm sure YOU can handle the .338-378 caliber, however, try to recall your past hunting/shooting experiences around other people. I can recall many in which someone emphatically stated that "that gun kicks like a mule" and when the range went cold and we all went up to check targets, his target had two or three holes anywhere, not in or near the bullseye. My best guess, he quick pulled the minute the crosshairs came in view of the target and fired so as to huury up and get it over with. No settling period and breathing and squeezing. Why? He KNEW what was coming and didn't like it. The gun was a .300 Win Mag. My .300WM which I thought was pretty easy to shoot. Now imagine yourself as this guys guide in Alaska for big bear. You're not aware that he's scared of his gun and FLINGS lead! Two days into the hunt, you put him on a great brownie and the shot is 90 yds. The shot goes off in a hurry, the bear hunches up and runs off into the alders. He's gut shot. Now, do you 'wanna go in and track a gut shot 1000lb pissed off grizzly?
Thats my point. Not too many guys are like you and fear no rifle. You would cleanly kill that bear at 90 yds, far too many others can't with that caliber. Remember, it has 42 lbs of recoil energy. How many regulars have the skill and fearless thought process that they can and will shoot this gun well?
In this post is why I offered my humble opinion of a .300 mag or .338 Win MAg. The .300's are in the low to mid 20's on recoil factor and the .338 in the low to mid 30's. I think this allows the average hunter on an expensive dream hunt to accurately and successfully kill his bear AND makes the guide's job easier and far less dangerous.
You and I have probably been shooting for many years combined. We've developed a comfort level behind most any gun. We're not the average shooter/hunter. As an example, a few of my hunting buddies hunt with a 12 ga slug gun, but hate to sight it in. I take their guns and spend half a day sighting them all in. Thats about 30-40 rounds of 12ga slugs in a 2- 2 1/2 hr period. I get their guns dead on at a 100yds off the bench and yet they miss deer every year??? I know the gun is on, I shot it! They do the quick pull up and slam the trigger in anticipation of getting smacked ny the shotgun. Who knows where their crosshairs are when the shot goes off.
Thats my point. Innate fear vs. practiced, learned gun control. The critter and the guide deserve it!