Personally, my aesthetic preference is for using a smaller cartridge -- but adequate -- for a given game species rather than a bigger cartridge. For example, when hunting deer and pronghorn antelope I would prefer to use my .25-06 or my .243 rather than my .30-06. The .30-06 will get the job done and will not tear up meat inordinately . . . but it is bigger than is necessary. The .25-06 and .243 are plenty of gun if I do my job, putting a bullet where it needs to go.

On the otherhand, I am attracted to the idea of getting a .338 Win Mag for elk hunting to use instead of my .30-06. Most people will admit the .30-06 is enough gun for elk. . . but I also sense from discussionsthat under some circumstances the .338 win mag might be preferred (1) longer range, quartering away shot; (2) less than ideal shooting conditions maybe late in the season or one-time opportunity on a trophy individual (generally I am not a trophy hunter but a meat hunter wanting a good hunting experience, but I suppose if a trophy happened to throw himself in front of me I would be as motivated as the next guy to harvest this animal -- trophies provide meat too); (3) hunting in grizzly bear country. Maybe if I had more first hand elk hunting experience I would be more confident and settled in my use of the .30-06. Maybe I'm sub-consciously fishing for an excuse to buy a new rifle in .338 win mag?