I won a T3 tikka in a .338federal last winter at a banquet, already owning a 338wm I didn't really need so i sold it to my hunting partner. I have shot this gun a bit and its recoil is not bad IMO. To draw a comparison like a 06 with 200 gr bullets, no where near my win mag that's for sure. So far we have found it shoots 200gr hornady's with varget and RL15 powder. It'll better MOA out to 200 yards, 300 it opens up but still respectable. Have not shot beyond that and that is not his intend for this rifle any way. MV is around 2600fps, not a barn burner but an effecient hunting cart out to 300. No kills besides paper to date but he's hoping to change that in the next few weeks chasing bear and then elk opens the 15th.

Only pee off here is finding head stamped brass for it...we have resorted to forming 308win brass to the 338 federal specs. Not a problem for him as he doesn't own a 308 but may be for one who does...of course finding the proper brass may not be an issue either.

Hope it helps.