First Time,

Congrats on spacing out the rifles in your rack and on acquiring a fine elk thumper.

Since you are stepping out of your " familiarity envelope" with a 338, here are a few thoughts on moving up out of the " light weight class" and getting your relationship with your new " hammer" off to a good start.

** Start out with a box of 200 gr cartridges - starting with Federal Premium 250gr High Energy ammo might be a bit of a shocker.

** Take your first few shots standing up (more body flex) and just worry about hitting the backstop until you' ve gotten " introduced" at the gut level and you' ve mentally quantified what you' re handling. No better way to get " beat up" than bench shooting.

** Make sure your stock fits, i.e. your wrapped around thumb is at least 1/2" from your nose/upper lip -- if not, then a slip on recoil pad or a insert a wadded pair of leather gloves between the butt and your shoulder, both are a short term fix to a stock that is too short for your body type.

** If it came with a scope on it, then check out the scope' s front/back mounting placement and eye relief vs. your brow.

** In lighter calibers, you can have these factors out of place with no overt problems -- little different with these mid-range magnums.

** Go enjoy yourself -- you' re ready to go anywhere and face anything in North America -- my boys, 165 pounds and 20 years old hunt elk with 338' s -- you' ll do fine.

Never Go Undergunned,
EKM