The 35 Remington can be loaded hot. Just check the same manufactures rounds like Buffalo bore and you will see how nice that round is but it doesn't come anywhere close to the 358.
Folks keep on bringing up the effective range and 308w which is awesome, no doubt, but I suggest to take a look at the test data posted before. Also check the available ammo not just from winchester and hornday that is rather mild for this round.
The difference is substantial therefore for many to consider the 358. Of course one could go with 375 and magnums but the whelen will take care of any task in this continent and many other places. The only places you will not be able to use the 358 nor the whelen is on Big 5 safaris where they require the 375 or even 416 as the minimum depending on the country and or animal reserve.
But please look at the data above before you start bringing up again the 308 outperforming or out thumping anything.
The Wow factor is relative. What is "Wow" for you might be "Nah" for me.
For everything else there is the RUM in 35 or 375. that will take down a navy destroyer if needed but better keep a shoulder trauma surgeon on the speed dial just in case.
A 225gr-250gr pill with 570 to 600 power factor is no small potatoes and those heavy partitions will brutalize any game we might encounter anywhere in this continent no matter the size. And they will take care of business at the ranges people shoot at 99% of the time. Of course the whelen and obviously many others, specially magnums will do even better but is it really needed?
I am attaching this again in case people are not reading the entire thread...
We already talked how brutal the 308w is with some 150gr -180gr bullets but if there is a desire for some extra insurance w/o going huge the 358 fits the bill and it does it relatively economically both in the bullets and powder spending bills. if you shoot 20 rounds a years this doesn't matter that much so go for the larger ones if that is what you like. As I said if one has long actions and tons of 30-06 the whelen makes more sense. Perhaps for someone who might encounter longer distances on average although both are very lethal further than most people can be effective in a real life ethical hunt situation. If there is long range involve customers will be demanding a well suited magnum cartridge that is the smart thing to do anyway.
But if one is an avid 308w shooter who maybe has a lots of spent brass then the 358W is a no brainer. Perhaps a 20" 358W AR upper that is economical and takes 30 seconds to swap. I do shoot both and have plenty of spent brass specially in 308 but if I wasn't a shooter of those, it would be easier for me to get free 308 brass than 30-06, just because the 308w is our service round and I find it in almost every recycling bin in the ranges I go to. For others might be different. Again it all depends on how much one shoots. Another thing, I buy hornady xtp bulk and FMJS as well as hp and sp from 147 to 180gr for my carry pistols and other things and this can be a very affordable way to shoot super flat in moderate ranges for practice and some good hunting if needed to.
So this makes a great way for people to do caliber consolidation. Perhaps you are a 9mm, 38/357 shooter already and can use bulk bullets from stock at hand.
The .356 and .357 value packs are great source of economic shooting that can yield nice practice round sometimes cheaper than the 308w itself. Just need to make sure the jackets do not separate because of the brutal speeds and torque forces involved but hornady and sierras seem to hold up pretty well even show some nice groups. Some folks also use the 30 carbine and blakcout light bullets for the 308 but the 308 with 147gr to 180gr can be equally affordable and double the power for whatever fun one has in mind.
In this case a lever or bolt is better as the faster powders will not cycle autloaders. AA1680/R7 is as fast as one wants to go with an autoloader. Most hollow points are problematic in autoloaders so better try fmjs.
So it is not all just big game hunting.