Which would you recommend? I've run the numbers and the 35 don't give up much engery or velocity to the 338. It also looks like you could build the 35 to weigh 8.5 pounds, total, and have some what less recoil than a 9 pound total weight 338. Since I don't like 26" barrels I'd use a 24" on either, if that matters.

JMO - either will be fine. Whichever has the most "appeal" to you. I like bigger holes and more rounds in my mag, but, that being said, the 338WM is top-drawer too. I guess I'd go with the lighter one - you could probably go even shorter than 24, say 22-23", and still get good numbers out of the whelen. Shorter and lighter is nice - easier to carry all day and easier to manage in brush. So much of hunting is carrying... Good luck on your hunt.

It would really boil down to personal preference. I have a Ruger 77 in 35 whelen that I use for general big game hunting. I think you would be well served with a 225gr Sierra gameking on the lepard and a 250gr nosler partition on the larger eland.

Both will work, but you actually give up considerably more than you seem to realize if you reload...A 210 Nosler at 3005 FPS and a 300 gr. at 2450 FPS in a .338 is approaching the good old 375 H&H in killing power...I sold my 35 Whelen and my 338-06 Imp. in favor of the .338 and never regretted it...I also have a 9.3x62 that I prefer over the Whelen..The Whelen only had one bullet that served me well and that was the 225 gr. Nosler...

But like I said take your pick, its all about choices and you need to pick the one that YOU like, not the one I or anyone else likes.....