So, what do you hunt that you need a .300WM or .375? I am another who avoids recoil when I can. A light gun with heavy recoil I'd rarely shoot. Then again, I don't hunt anymore either. The last hunt I went on I carried a Garand. :)

Except for moose or grizzly just about anything else can be hunted with a .30-06 or less. Elk certainly don't know the difference. I'd certainly rebarrel it, probably to a .30-06 if I were hunting elk. Especially when trying to find ammo. If you are set on larger dia bullets then the .35Whelen is certainly doable, but, can you get the ammo you want?

But....all this is what I would do, not what you should do.

I do understand having 'extra' guns as well as buying one cause I just wanted it. One of my 'dream' guns is a pre-war civilian Mauser in 7x57 with a mannlicher stock and receiver peep sight. I don't have any real use for one, I just love their looks, the action and cartridge.