Your 30-30 will work for the ranges you're limititing it to. But if your going to get real serious about elk, and are thinking about shelling out your limited cash on a new rifle I would try to persuade you to get the 300 WSM over the 270 WSM. As much as I love my 270 Win, and even though I know its capable, I will choose my 300 Win Mag over it for elk.