New Shooter,
The 338-408 or my version of the same, 338 Snipe-Tac, is not a gun you shoot all day long. The recoil in a 15# rifle with brake is about the same as a 300win mag, not bad considering pushing the 300grn bullet up to 3400fps.
The super big 338 rifles are more of a specialty rifle, 1000yard and out are what they are designed for. When i go to the range with my personal rifle, i will average 30 to 40 rounds in an afternoon. But you got to remember with driving out to 1200yds and checking targets and cleaning, the day is gone pretty fast. I personally shoot my rifle in the 3300fps range, saves wear on the brass. Brass is about the same as buying Weatherby brass. I have shot some loads up too 3500fps with a 300MK bullet, brass life is short with these loads. It is unknown what the bbl life is on these wildcats, other large cased 338 wildcats get anywhere from 1000 to 2000 rounds before the barrel needs to be set back or replaced. It depends on the individual on when the accuracy level has been depleated. A bench or target shooter might change out the barrel at 800rounds. A hunting rifle version might see 1500 rounds before the groups open up past 1 moa at 1000yds. (Elk MOA is 20" on average) So if your gun still holds a 15" group at 1000yds, it would be within the Elk kill zone. Most of the 338 snipe-tac rifles i have built will hold 6-8" at 1000yds, these are hunting rifles and not a bench gun shot from bi-pods to simulate a hunting condtion. 100yd groups will be in the .1 to .3moa group size.
They are a awesome long range tool, but not for everyone.
If your worried about recoil stay with the smaller 338 rifles.
Dave