I have narrowed my next long-gun purchase down to either a .35 or .45 caliber rifle, with a Marlin in either .45/70 1895 Classic (22" bbl, not the short guide guns), or .35 Remington 336 at the top of my list. A lightweight pump or bolt gun in .358 Winchester or .35 Whelen is also currently in the running, although not the price range. $600 out-the-door price limit - used is ok, if not preferred, as this tool will be used hard. Any optics will be considered later and separately.

My only 'large' rifle is a scoped .308 Win semi-auto that is more capable than the loose nut behind the trigger at making good shots at up to 300 yards (probably further, if we get that loose nut tightened up a bit...), but it has a magazine, a pistol grip, and a scope hanging off it that spend a lot of time getting hung up on brush, not to mention that it's a bit heavy, and expensive, to be dragging around through the undergrowth that they call mountain forests in this state. I plan to keep this rifle, and will still use it when hunting open areas.

My next rifle will at most have a 2-7 x 32 scope mounted, but may have nothing more than peep sights installed (I am not a fan of notch-style open sights on long guns). It should be capable of taking game up to elk-sized critters, and easy to reload for. I have no plans at this time to hunt anything larger.

Other considerations:
- I already stock .358" pistol bullets (which I think I would be able to use for varmint/plinking loads in a .35), but would not be against adding the .458 to my stash if those with more experience deem it prudent.
- I have an 18" 12-gauge pump that is quite competent with slugs and 00 buck in excess of 60 yards. Would the .45-70 be definitively 'better' in the dangerous critter defense (not hunting) role than this?

Out of those listed to be used on Elk I would have to say either a 358Win or 35Whelen. The 35Rem might be a little light for elk past 100yds.

I have a 350 Rem Mag which is ballistically the same(slight edge but close enough) as a 35Whelen for the most part and it is more than capable to take large game out to 300-400yds if I can hit them at that distance. You will have to be a handloader if you pick any of the 35 calibers as there are very few factory loads out there.

358 Winchester or .35 Whelen are both great rounds my hunting patner has killed elk with both with good results. Big bullets make big holes and a used Remington 700 classic in 35 Whelen would be hard to beat
but not all that light