"...more punch than a .300 WM can deliver..." There's absolutely nothing the .358 can do the .300 will not.
Ballistics is a world of trade-offs always.
I think the 358 proposes some very reasonable trade-offs for many popular uses. I would say the 375 too but the 35 is also capable and more affordable on average.
358 can shoot inexpensive 9mm and 357 pistol bullets down to 12 cents each. 200gr TMJs from speer with flat metplat used in silhouette shooting make a great deer, pig and bear round too.
35 caliber can shoot very heavy bullets up to 320gr bullets in supersonic and subsonic mode. Just need to get a faster twist. One cannot provide that kind of momentum
in 30 caliber that is why some professional hunters in Africa do not allow anything lower than a 375 (or 35 negotiable).
It also puts the round in the true brush category with a lot less deflection than any 30 caliber bullet worth measuring against a heavy 35 caliber.
Related to the killing power rating and the above, the extra section is well known for substantial wounding and quick kills in large game.
Same thing with the 375 with pretty decent ballistics still. Once you go above 375 it gets more exclusive
and expensive for good ballistics and in 45, 50 ballistics are not that good anymore. We are talking about heavy grain here.
So extra section and momentum is something the 35 caliber can provide in exchange for less long range capability than is brush country and
specially with heavy and or dangerous game is a whole new ball game all together.
Very large game at extreme long range is possible but then those who practice those disciplines steer in favor of the 338 super/ultra magnums but also lean in the 375 and 416 for true horse power and reach.
So yes, there are a few things the 35 bore provides in terms of raw killing power and w/o going nuts with even heavier ultra magnums.
