I think what Beaverjack is saying is that elk, or any game animal for that matter, don't always present the best shot possible. You may not get that perfect sitting down broadside shot. You need to be able to put the bullet where it counts even if that is through the front shoulder or through the liver to get to the lungs and heart or through the brisket on a dead on shot. I will tell you that the failsafe is one hell of a bullet, had one go through a shoulder, break two ribs, take out the heart and lungs and exit the other side. The biggest bull that my father shot had to be chased up a hill 100 yards and then make a split second shot off hand standing up. He was so out of breath he fell down after the shot but he was able to put the bullet where it needed to be. In short your friend needs to practice alot in many different shooting positions.