300WSM or 338 Win Mag for CO Hunting???
I have a 25/06 that is a very fine rifle for hunting small to medium game both back in Alabama and here in Colorado. However, I am giving this family (3 generations) rifle to my youngest son and will be replacing it with a Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in left hand. My question is this, do I want a 300WSM (165 - 180 grn Barnes-X) or a 338 Win Mag (180 - 225 grn Barnes-X or Nosler) for Elk, Mule, Bighorn, Bigfoot, Swamp monster...... You get the point. I have access to some GREAT land with plenty of game and expect to make shots up to and exceeding 350 yards. Pain is recoil is not a problem since I cut my teeth on 300 H&H mag from my Grandpa's Win pre-64 model 70 as a boy shooting bottles in a trash dump.
I really like the 300WSM with its 130 - 180 grn variety but, I am more confident in the 338's killing power for the big guys I am now able to hunt. I know that the 338 is overkill on Mule deer. Anyway, I need some good advise.
Thanks, Bob in Canon City, CO