For those with little experience in watching hundreds of animals fall to all sorts of calibers, would indeed think the 270win is a bit light on medium sized game like elk. Expanding on that note then so would the 30-06 be deemed alittle on the light side. Being they are made from the same case size. One you can load heavy bullets in and the other only reaching medium weight bullets.

But in truth the real question is can the 270win killed an elk from every possible shot angle. (NOOOOOOOO) Can any other caliber do it either?(NOOOOOOOO). I never lost and elk to a 270win and to this day have never seen and elk lost to one. Does it happen oh yeah!!!!!! The most elk that haven't been recovered that I've personally seen have been from Magnum class calibers. Before you get all pump up read on. Most people not used to or have very little experience with a magnum will jump back from it even before the hammer falls. This is real bad for wounding animals. In fairness its only from lack of shooting a bigger magnum. Or a ill made gun that kicks tremendous.

Are magnums more capable of killing a elk within a medium range of shooting oh hell yeah theres not doubting that. In a bad instant would they have a better success rate of actually killing on a bad shot,(of course they will). Does the .30 cal class of calibers have a better bullet selection YES.

I use a 300 win mag and I love it. Even though its my favorite one to take out. I have to be totally honest when it came down to it and my 300 was out for some reason I'd grab the 270win and go elk hunting. Is there a difference the way the animal goes down from one to the other. Not in that I can tell. But then again I don't take half ass shots at animals.

In my opinion a hunter that can't kill elk with a 270win in the first place. Can't shoot for ****. And that goes for any caliber. Do it right the first time.