["For me, I'd happily take a .243 after elk if I had to, preferably with premium bullets. I would simply exercise the same self-control required in bowhunting, to limit my shot range and angles. If I put 100 grains of bullet into an elk's lungs, it's dead. And then some."]

As I have mentioned many times here and on Realtree forums seen quite a few fotos ofCO teens women andyoung people with huge bull elk killed with a 243 rifle. In CO it is decidedly NOT uncommon. Admittedly it isnt my choice, but if its the only gun I had available to use I'd go get me a box of Hornday Light Magnums for it and hunt til I dropped. This idea of "sub-calibre" comes from magazines whose job it is to stir controversy and sell more magazines which dont necessarily help get the brown on the ground.

Good luck to y'all with whatever rifle you choose to use.