Quote:
Same for 338-06 and 35 Whelen. They shoot heavier bullets, but offer zero advantages over 30-06 when it is loaded with the heavier .30 bullets. They offer very poor long range performance. And while they don't have magnum stamped on them, recoil is comparable to a 300 win mag."
I have to wonder if you've even shot any of the cartridges you've mentioned.
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I have. Sold both the 338-06 and 35 Whelen because they just cost more, and offered sub par performance. There is a reason they never became mainstream. Doesn't mean they don't work. They just don't do the job any better than a heavy .30 cal.
A 200 or 220 gr bullet from a 30-06 will out perfom 35 Whelen and 338-06 easily. It will have less recoil, flatter trajectory, and will out penetrate them. The larger diameter argument is nonsense. After impact the expanded diameter of the bullets will be virtually the same. Fire the same bullets from a 300 magnum and it isn't even close and you get about the same recoil from any of the 300 mags as the 338 or 35 Whelen with heavier bullets are used. When bullets lighter than 200 gr are used in the 338 and 35 calibers the recoil might be comparble to a 30-06/200, but the BC and SD of those bullets are pitiful compared to a 200 gr 30 cal bullet. There have been numerous tests that have proven that the heavy .30's beat everything short of 375 mags.