Buckshot. I lean toward the 30-06 but as I stated I consider the 270, 280 & Mag and 30-06 about perfect and about interchangable. I have never seen much difference in performance on elk size animals. Considering good hits with all of them. I was not recommending the 270 although I feel its a good all around NA cartridge. I sure consider the 7mm-08 in the same class. I have one of them as well as the 30-06 308 270 and 280. This only because I wanted to rry all of them to make my observations first hand. My rifles come and go as I have to trade if I want to keep trying other calibers. I could however make do with a 30-06 with a 24 inch barrel as my only rifle. Because my bad shoulder makes using a bolt gun very unhandy and painful though I have settled in with the 7600 Rem Pump 30-06. For good power with no recoil to speay of I still reach for my 6.5x55. A converted Military Model 96 Mauser. There are very few calibers that I have never tried as I come from a family of gun nuts and hunters.

I don't disagree with EKM's choice of rifles, I just think there is a wide range of calibers that fit the bill and don't find any of the whats referred to as 30-06 class of rifles to be MARGINAL.