338-06 vs 338 Hawk
I've been thinking about this off and on for the last couple of days. I personally don't think there is any real difference between the 338/06 and the 338 Hawk (could be similar to 338/06 Improved), but that doesn't seem to stop folks from "improving" the 270, 280, etc... You may 100 fps or a little more from the improved version. Now, since you have readily available brass for both (either making from the '06 or 35 Whelen or A-Square or Quality Cartridge), they both use the same bullets, there are dies readily available for both, why not choose one over the other? I don't know. If you like the "improved" type cartridges, I'd go for the Hawk, if not I'd go with the '06. Both will require the same amount of gunsmith work, both have forming dies readily available, etc... Question is, do you like Fords or Chevys.
As far as the comparison between the 338/06 and the 35 Whelen, there are several articles out there about it and I won't rehash it. I suppose the 338 version has a wider variety of bullets, but for a rifle of this class, you would probably just find one or two loads for it and stick to those. By the way, just to confuse the issue more, there is a 358 Hawk.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
