The balistic difference between the 338/06 and the 35 whelen are really negligable. I was going to put together a custom mouser 98 in 338/06 but when I started looking at all the money involved in doing it right I went and got a Ruger 77 in 35 whelen. It was one of the oddball calibers offered in a special run of rifles that they are trying to use up thier old style synthetic stocks for. I think that my choice of caliber was right but I have had some problems with the Ruger 77, a short trip back to ruger and a little tinkering around and I have solved the problems and have a very good all around rifle for big game hunting. I have two loads worked up that I can use with the same zero, one is a 250gr Hornady RN at 2400fps and the other is a 225gr Sierra SBT at 2750fps. With the RN at dead on at 100 yards the 225 gr SBT prints exactly 3" high. With this zero I can shoot out to 300 yards easily with the 225gr bullet and can use the 250gr loads for brushier area or as a camp defense,for bears. I can buy two differnt brands of ammo for the whelen at walmart and some other sporting goods stores in case I need some and can't reload, and recoil is really mild for either load. The 350 is about the ballistic twin to the whelen but comes in a smaller package and factory ammunition will be hard to find. Another thing about the 350 is that you have to push the longer heavier bullets so deep in the case you rob yourself of powder room.