One of my hunting partner uses a .280 rem for deer, elk and moose, he's has no problem tagging animals.Now reloads after Speers stopped making Nitrex ammo he was without a 160gr offeringwith OTC ammo(his preference for larger then deer in the .280), so left little choice but to buy dies and start reloading. IMHO it is a good reloader cartridge,as most of the factory loads are geared towards deer and sell it short. That said their are options available if you don't want to shoot the heavier for cal. bullets; ie 150gr Nosler part.

You may want to consider a 7mm rem mag if elk are regular quarry and you have no plan or access to reloading. Popular so factory ammo is readily available with more bullet/gr choices.

Both .284 caliber cartridges IMO/E are better then a .277 when it comes to game larger then deer. BTW I own and have usedboththe 7mm rem mag and 270win for antelope to moose.

Good Luck