I was up the camp for bear this week and had a chance to fire a .338 Win Mag. I've shot a lot of different chamberings over the years but never the .338. I was curious about the recoil and managability of the rifle/cartridge. The rifle was a Savage 116 with a muzzlebrake and the ammo was factory Federal 250 load.
I shot 2 shots offhand, one with the muzzle brake open and another with it closed. Both shots only about 1 1/2" apart at approximately 75 yards. Although not a 'plinker', I was actually surprised at the relatively mild recoil from this combo. I also didn't notice any appreciable difference with the muzzle brake open or closed. The recoil to me felt the same as my Tikka T3 in 30-06. Now I don't foresee me needing a .338 WM in my near future at my age. But if I were to go on a rifle elk, moose or bear hunt (even sheep), this chambering would be at the top of my list for a new rifle.