The 338 Federal is right much stiffer than the .308 if you put it in a light weight rifle. Big difference between 165 and 200 grains. I'd say its about comparable to a lighter weight 30-06 with a heavier bullet. Or really about on par with a 7mm Mag...in a standard rifle. Recoil is tough to quantify. It is a lot less than your standard 338 Win Mag though.