I've heard that some of the guides out west won't take you out with anything less than a 30-06. If it were me, and I was putting up the $4,000 to $5,000 for an elk hunt, I'll be damned if Im taking a pee shooter with me. I think if I were shelling out that kind of dough, I would find another grand or so for a caliber more suited to the game. 7mag or 300 win mag.