I have only shot 3 cow elk, but many, many elk sized plains game. From the 30-06 to 300 mags, 338 winmags, 35 WAI , 340W and the 375 H&H, all were killed just fine....however...I noticed a distinct difference in the majority shot with 338 and up calibers. My favorite turned out to be the 35 WAI with either 250X or 200X ( I expect the 200 TTSX would be awesome too) up to 250yds or so, I couldn't tell any difference between the 35 WAI and the 338 Winmag. The 300 mag with 180XBT was awesome, it was also a heavy thumper, but the 35 WAI recoiled less, had less muzzle blast and felt better all in a lighter rifle ( which I like slim and trim for the way I hunt). "To me", a 375H&H in the older Mod 700 BDL SS felt as easy to shoot/handle as the Whelen AI, and much easier to handle than the same weight rifle in 338 WM. In a lwt 338, the 185 XLC was the cats meow on elk. So, if you have a 338 that "you shoot well in field positions" ( which if you drop back to the 185-210s should) you are carrying an awesome elk thumper! The only thing "better" is if you have a 340W or 338 RUM but "only" if you shoot it well. A 338 WM with the 185/210 is also just fine for deer and hogs too. I had no problem killing a Black Wildebeast at 347yds ( which is still not 400 by no means) with my old 35 WAI/200X but I was pushing it at 2970fps too. ( don't ask :shock: 
) but it made a much bigger hole than a friends 300 WM/180XBT at same distance on big Gemsbuck. For 375yds and further, I have no experience. But a fatter caliber bullet gives them a "different look on their face" than a smaller one when big animals are shot! Good luck to you.
) but it made a much bigger hole than a friends 300 WM/180XBT at same distance on big Gemsbuck. For 375yds and further, I have no experience. But a fatter caliber bullet gives them a "different look on their face" than a smaller one when big animals are shot! Good luck to you.
