I have one of these Sako Kodiaks. Absolutely lovely rifle. Less than 1/2" groups @ 100 yards, all day every day using Barnes 300 grain TSX and 250 grain TTSX. Muzzle blast doesn't seem to be an issue, although I might have been dropped on my head once too many times as an infant and I just haven't noticed it!! The thing feeds like butter and the trigger breaks like a glass rod. Very typical Sako quality.

The shorter barrel won't make enough of a difference to velocity or killing power to make any noticeable difference. Both my warthog and Impala were shot quartering to and were complete full length diagonal passthroughs. Granted, both are small animals but that's all I've shot with the Kodiak so far.