cz2506. You are right on, there were some 375's around but not many and the 338 was not even a thought yet. My only point is that hunters used what they had and you are correct to assume the surplus ammo and rifles made the 30-40 popular. However it was a potent performer with the heavy bullets it used.

I have read that when hunters hunted big bears with the old flintlocks that they had about a 50/50 chance against a Grizzly. Of course I wasm't there to confirm those odds.