Stock design is still number one in felt recoil. I can't see any reason for a noticeable difference in recoil between a .300 and .338. I have an old FN actioned .338 with a McMillan stock and Limbsaver pad. To me it is as comfortable to shoot as my 7Mags, but it fits really well. It is a baby to shoot and not that heavy either. The impressive thing to me is the way a .338 puts down elk-sized game. I shoot a 7x57 more than anything, and to get a noticeable difference in real game-dropping power, you have to step up to .338 or .375 caliber in my experience. For all the others, from .270 through 7Mags and .30-06's, pretty much identical results. The .338's and .375's step up the power a notch.
