While I'm firmly in the BUY IT category I also think that it's foolish to buy a rifle for hunting that you can't practice with!
Either be a Sally and add a brake (hate em) or cut the barrel and put on a suppressor (like a man right?!).
If nothing else at least by a 5.56 or 6.5cm version of the...
Anyone who thinks someone who is sensitive to recoil is a "Sally" is either a fool or acting like one online.
EVERYONE is recoil sensitive whether they admit or not.
Otherwise the rest of your response is spot on.
Ego will never defeat physics no matter how much
we want it to do so.
Dunno about 338 (assume Win mag version of that caliber) since I have such a low round count with it but a well stocked 375 H&H is surprisingly pleasant to shoot.
Grew up required to use 12ga slugs for deer (20 gauge slugs hadn't gotten half as good as they are now) and as a result of that...