First Time,
Au contrare! Counterbalancing vote here. 338 Mag on Elk -- I intentionally go for low in the shoulder (although center shoulder will work well) -- plenty of vital pulmonary organs right behind that shoulder plus you' ll take out their front axle so you' ll own them right there! Also plenty of target area to put the hit on if circumstances are challenging.

We butcher all our meat in camp -- kind of like a backwoods CSI autopsy lab added onto the field dressing/quartering/deboning process -- all sorts of calibers in camp from the 7mm Mag/30-06 range on up. My observation is that velocity and quality of bullet is the key factor that determines whether there will be excessive blood shot meat an undue distance from the wound channel. 338' s with heavier bullets (250 gr. noslers) are medium velocity and certainly DO damage the meat a good 1" out from the wound channel but DO NOT even come close to ruining whole elk quarters in our experience (as a practical matter I DO recommend shooting them in the front and NOT the rear quarters).

Remember as someone said, " the animal is bigger than a Honda Goldwing" . When trimming a 338 shoulder shot quarter I would say the bloodshot meat discarded is better measured by ounces than by pounds with some of the transition area going to the burger/jerky bin. Remember a shoulder is about half roasts, a couple steak cuts, and the balance burger/jerky anyway. The key thing is to GET THE ANIMAL.

We have one gentleman in our camp who shoots a 7mm Mag loaded hot with thin jacket bullets -- " exploding bullets" he calls them -- THOSE has been our worst blood shot meat/trimming exercises to date. I think the same caliber in a nosler or trophy bonded bear claw would be much, much less of a problem and probably kill better even though he gets more than his share as is. When his quarters/deboned clusters come in I just pass the steel over my knife a few times, get to work and trim them up.

In my experience, deer are delightful to shoot insofar as they are so cooperative with that nice little 125 yard turn broadside, pause and look maneuver they offer so often -- too curious for their own good. Expect no such cooperation from elk, if they know " something is up" -- with elk hunting things seldom go just right according to plan -- shot opportunities are more varied/challenging. If you are lucky enough to catch them unawares and get a heart/lung shot I guarantee you a 338 will do its part -- on the other hand if its is a raking quartering shot or a shoulder shot going right through bones it will do its job there too -- even breaking both shoulders. Such versatility in " getting the job done no matter what" is why it is one of our favorites.

Shoulder shot? No problem -- 5-10 minutes of knife time when we butcher and I' ll have it all cleaned up!
Heart/Lung shot? Good for you -- 5-10 minutes less of knife time.
If you have the right shootin' tools either one will come and go as easy as the other -- and that is handy.

Never Go Undergunned,
EKM