Welcome fellow Alaskan.
338 Norma is good, Rum is faster and the Edge is faster yet. It just depends on how much power you want. I have a good number of 338's and for me personally I am comfortable here in bear country with any of them. The Edge is my cartridge of choice and the one I always pick up when it is time to bear hunt.
A new 338 wildcat that is also worth looking at is the 338 X 375 Ruger. Not much different ballistically than the 340 Weatherby though.
Neal
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