If you're thinking a bear hunt might be in your future, I think the .338 makes a better choice. There's nothing wrong with the .300, but I like bigger bullets, and I've never really heard any serious complaints from people using too much gun. Not in Alaska anyway.

In fact, I know a few people that use a .375H&H for hunting EVERYTHING in Alaska. They figure they might only be hunting caribou or moose, but there's always a chance of running into a bear. When I asked one guy about it, he responded with a quick "bear trumps moose" explanation.

As for rifles, I think the two you have picked out are just fine. Personally, I like Remingtons. You can get a stainless 700 SPS for a little over $500. You can also get a stainless Weatherby Vangard for about the same money. This will save you a few bucks you can put towards optics. The bottom line is that you need to find one that YOU like and are comfortable with. There are a lot of good rifles on the market.