It is an awesome cartridge with which I have shot 3 deer (1 mulie & 2 whitetail in WA State) and 2 elk. All the animals didnt take even one step! dropped int their tracks!! The deer were all taken with winchester 130 Gr Silvertips (ballistics) and the elk were taken with 140 Gr failsafes. The only reason I sold mine is because I wanted two different guns for deer and elk. The reason was simply because I didnt want to have to re-zeroe my rifle for the two different bullet weights. So, I bought a Kimber 7mm-08 for deer and I have my eyes on a win mod 70 338WM for elk. To me, the 338Wm is the quintessential elk round (plus I just love the caliber and the way it shoots on the mod 70). With very rare exception all the deer I have taken (even in open country) have been 300 Yards or under so the 7mm-08 will be fine. The ones I shot at that were farther away than that I missed. So, I have relegated myself to a max of 300 yards now. The elk were taken at 50 yards and 120 yards with failsafes. The 270WSM will kill deer and elk with proficiency if you do your part. I just like to have two guns ready for their repective tasks when needed. As far as the 7mm WSM it is the most unjustifiable shortmag of the bunch...a big why bother. The 270WSM makes more of a case for it's existence.Also easier to find ammo for (though it wasnt as easy as I'd hoped or as cheap (another reason I went with the 7mm-08). Better yet, get a 308 and call it good. Cheap ammo....can shoot a 180Gr bullett and when you stop and think about it...it's all you really need for deerto 350yards and elk to 250. I'm sick of magnums....especially WSM's...can you believe this 325WSm stuff??? what a waste of time. The 270WSM is the only one so far that should stick around (and even that is debatable). Okay i will get off my soapbox now.