there's something to be said for best cartridge vs. best/most popular cartridge. Especially for the non-hand-loaders.

plus the latest and greatest bullets etc... and loads will always be available first in the most popular cartridges.

Thanks again gents for the added comments.  I just found out that I was steered a little wrong in the caliber restrictions department.  In NM 24 is the smallest caliber legally allowed for elk so her 243 would be legal.  That being said I will continue with our quest for a new rifle and a larger caliber .  She will always have her 243 but I will go ahead and get her a Weatherby .  As stated I do own 240 through 340 in the WBY calibers so I will let her try them out and see what she thinks of the recoil.  I don't suspect her to be recoil sensitive but you never know. Maybe we can get out this weekend and give it a go.  I also own several other calibers in everything from 220 swift thru 300 Win mag but No left handed models in the bunch.  Being a WBY fanatic I will exclude all of those calibers and only take out my WBY's to try. Once she decides on a WBY caliber if she wants something else down the road she can get that one herself😂!  I lost my son to the dark side sometime ago 😔! He opted for a custom 30-06 I had . He always like the stock and the way it fit him. He also liked the fact he could walk into any Town and country feed store, mom and pop shop or Walmart and pick up a box of shells for 20 bucks. ( He always was smarter than me).  I hope to keep his sister on track. Thanks again gents I will keep you posted and see where we land !

split the difference, 6.5-300wby?

off the top of my head I was thinking 257wby, being one of the most popular and great for most game, some may say it's a great elk cartridge, I would say it's on the light side. but then again can she use it for 90% of her hunts and when needing something bigger use something else or get a 2nd gun?

btw weatherby does chamber many rifles in 7mm Rem. Mag. which is a great round as well. and way more popular than any wby cartridge especially the 7mm wby, I think far and away the 257 and 300wby are their 2 most popular.

I think any of the 257, 270, 7mm wby, or 7mm rem mag. will do the job.
I think the 257 would be more pleasant to shoot 95% of the time too.

good luck! keep us posted.

I don't, but have seen them, I think they can be had for far less $$$

Fibermark .340wby seems to do about 1.5MOA

Haven't tried every load out there, but from weatherby the 200, 225, 250, seemed to average about 1.5MOA

What could be cool is like the Ruger case... and full length H&H case, combine best of both worlds.

Sorry but the 7mm-300 wby would be another also-ran in the 7mm world.

The 7mm Rem.Mag. is probably the most popular 7mm mag out there.

2nd place...?
7mm STW, RUM, 28 Nosler, 280 rem/ai.

personally if I needed more than the 7mm rem mag I think I would get a 28 Nosler.

speaking of btw, a .340wby shooting 180gr bullets will smoke a 7mm-300wby shooting 180gr bullets, and unless you're planning to shoot way past 500 or 600yards, the BC advantage doesn't apply. and that 7mm will need far more barrel length to get the job done than the 340.

I doubt wby will ever standardize the 7mm-300wby, unless perhaps they offered a trade in your 7mmwby for a 7mm-300wby program, but even that doesn't sound possible.

I think accubond makes a 265gr and 300gr for the .338

those would be my top choices.

wasn't sure if you already have the .25-06 barrel?

if not you may consider the .280 AI!

a 280 shooting 120/140gr should out pace a .25-06 shooting 120...  and do it with less barrel, ie. 22 vs 24"

if set on the 25-06 don't overlook the 100gr TTSX... 110 accubond aren't bad though either!

good luck!