I have found out in reading ballastics tests that the smaller lighter in weight bullets have less breech pressure because the lighter bullet moves faster out of the case.(brass) If we compare the 150gr bullets to the 200gr bullets we can see the smaller weight bullet can even have more powder yet less recoil due to the faster moving lighter bullet. It does affect the recoil too.
I went from using max loads in my 30-06 and reduced it by 2 grains and picked up better accuracy with little performance difference, it still works great for hunting, i still had maximum expansion.
My question is whats wrong with the recoil. Does the recoil bother you as you get older. As i get older the semi-auto's become more attractive to me. I have shot my 30-06 bolt action for most of my life now for over 30+ years and i bumped up to a 338win mag bolt action back in '94. I don't shoot the 30-06 or 338 that often except for sighting in and hunting. When i pick up the 338 to shoot I ask myself why did i ever buy this cannon in the first place after i pull the trigger a few times. I'm sure in 10 more years and probably soon i'll be shooting the semi-auto's for the big bore calibers and the bolt actions for the mid bore rifles(6,5mm swede & 7mm mausers). I did put a larger shotgun type recoil pad on my '06 so my son could shoot it and i just may try a better recoil pad on my 338 first. I hate to retire it because its such a great stopping caliber. Right now a hand towel under my jacket at the range does help on reducing the recoil. I do prefer the bolt actions for hunting.