Have owned both 338-06 and 35 Whelen. You specifically ruled out big bears and confined your use within NA.
THEREFORE, forget both of those and get a 30/06.
For African use the 9.3-62 is by far the best choice as well as for use on “big bears” but you ruled both of those out.
Well, that is boring... uber practical, but boring.
223, 30-06, & 375 H&H check all the boxes that need to be checked. But I am more of a 22-250, 270, 338-06, 416 Remington type of guy.
