Built my first .338 in 1988--and was convinced due to so many people saying it kicked like hell that (1) it to be relatively heavy, and (2) required very stout mounts.
Turned out the 9-pound rifle didn't kick anywhere near hell, but was a PITA to carry around Montana elk mountains, so I "rebuilt" it with a lighter-contour barrel and lighter synthetic stock. Also started experimenting with various mounts, and eventually found the standard "old ugly" Weaver rings and aluminum bases worked just fine--at least with scopes in those days, when 3-9x variables rarely weighed over 12 ounces.
The rifle weighed 7.5 to 8 pounds, depending on the scope. Hunted with it from Alaska to Africa and the only times it shifted POI were when a scope went bonkers. Never had any problem with the Weaver rings and bases....
