Noway - I've dropped 2 adult Elk with .300 WM XP3 Failsafe bullets in their track with shot that took out their lungs and heart. I do think that with bullets that designed to hold together and expand slower for Elk the shoulder shot which will also take out the lungs is probably a more ideal shot in my experience. Break the major front leg and lungs and it won't go far.

I think either way a solid broadside shot (ie.. lungs, heart/lungs, shoulder/lungs) will do what need to be done to bring the animal down pretty consistently in a distance where you can find the animal. Although, if given the opportunity, after the initial shot, I will always try to put another shot into an Elk. They are an incredibly tough animal.