Dakota,
A few thoughts about recoil.
I also have a Sako in 338. First it is much lighter than my other 338, which means it will be great for hiking up and down terrain and you will be more tempted to carry it in your hands instead of slung on your shoulder, BUT the lighter rifle in the same caliber/cartridge choice WILL recoil more. So if I don' t miss my guess your rifle is light. One thing you can do is load up the magazine versus single feeding at the range -- that will add a few ounces.

Some of the African big bore shooters have a gunsmith add removable weights (typically a putty like substance with lead shot mixed in or mercury tube setups) in the hollows of the stock. This makes the gun heavier and tamer for practice and then when show time comes they remove the weights, double check the zero -- and when they are out hunting of course recoil is no issue at all.

Also the decelerator pad mentioned by Bearhuntr is a good idea, EVEN if it came with a basic recoil pad. Pachmayr' s Decelerator' s have two advantages, they are truly DESIGNED to reduce recoil and they came in varying thicknesses to help in FITTING the rifle to the shooter. As you move up in power this last item is CRITICAL. Your thumb must be away from your nose (1/2" ).

Since you have until next fall, consider " backing off" on the ammo a little bit. Bearhuntr is right, if you have the Federal 250gr High Energy (HE) rounds they are on the high, high end. These would be a good place to end up and not necessarily a good place to start. Consider starting with 200s, then 225s, then regular 250' s, and then 250 HE' s (though not all rifles shoot these hot rounds well). In the coming months you want to turn this rifle into your old comfortable friend and a gradual " courtship" could be beneficial. I would recommend against a " give me your best shot, I can take it" sight in approach.

Just to pre-empt any possible flinch development take someone who knows the basics of gun handling with you to the range. With the rifle on the bench, you the shooter looks away while your helper " loads" the gun and puts it on safe. The only catch is your " loader" is instructed to sometimes put a live round in the chamber, and sometimes leave it empty -- you don' t know the difference (in the beginning make it majority empty). If you are " jerking" your shots it will be painfully apparent on the first dry fire.

Finally, when I found myself sighting in four rifles at one time for elk season (mine, one each for the two boys, and then the camp rifle) and since we lean towards the bigger stuff it was getting a bit obnoxious (no better place to get slapped around than at the bench rest). I shelled out the $25 and bought a strap on shoulder pad (goes on the shooter not the rifle). Ah, much better where were we.

It is just like moving up from high school football to the NFL: bigger, more power, extra equipment, more technique. Completely doable though, my two boys shoot 338' s for elk and they are 160 lbs and 20 years old. Some make take this " list" of items to say, " see, just one more reason NOT to use a magnum" -- No doubt if you aren' t willing to go thru a little bit of " spring training" then you won' t play in the NFL. Many of these folks upon their first negative experience with recoil retreat back to ol' faithful and put the rifle up for sale without ever exploring what they were doing wrong. Poor Coaching.

BTW - by considering yourself a " greenhorn" (as far as Brownies go) you are way, way ahead of the game -- no disabling pride, no negative attitude -- you' ll do fine.


Never Go Undergunned,
EKM