I gues getting back to the question, No you don't need a 338 as a majority of the big game animals ever killed were killed long before the 338 was even an idea. Back when the 375 H&H ruled for medium range knock down power around the world.Once again if I were to buy a rifle just for the bigger than elk animals, It would have more TKO than the 338. Otherwise I would stick to a 30-06 or 300 Mag. They will do anything that the 338 will do.