RE: Which gun should be my Elk back-up?
Flip a coin. Either one ore more than capable elk rifles. Do not use your regular deer bullets though. Better off with Noslers, Failsafes, Barnes, TBBC, ETC... in 140 - 160 grains in either rifle. The Barnes and Failsafes are excelent elk bullets in those two cartriges. They will break a shoulder and still get into the boiler room.