I have the Meindl Perfekt hunters and love them. I had no opportunity to break them in before a brief backpacking trip in 2006 and figured I would just suffer through with whatever pain ensued, but there was no break-in needed. No kidding. Very unusual. I say this as someone who just did about 35 miles of break-in (2 miles and 3 miles at a stretch -- more would have led to blisters, likely) on a new pair of backpacking boots. Good boots. I haven't noticed that they keep my feet any warmer than uninsulated backpacking boots (they have about 400 grams of thinsulate, supposedly), but I guess I can live with that.
Sure, the .257 Weatherby Magnum is not the cartridge of choice for Elk, as you have acknowledged, but it will take Elk. Good advice I've read from others applies to your use of your .257 -- shoot until the Elk drops to the ground, don't watch to see what is going to happen before reloading and shooting again.