Originally Posted by
Colorado Luckydog
I've cleaned some huge cows. And I have never been able to tell the difference in the toughness of a cow and a bull.
We all have diferent experiences. I always use heavy premium bullets on bull hunts (such as a NP). I have taken quartering shots at bulls that I would not have taken on a cow hunt, and I have shot bulls that were quite a bit larger than any cow that I have cleaned. The shots that I take on a cow hunt are always broadside, and probably at a closer average range.
I have shot some big bulls that were tough enough to take a well placed shot and still run down to the bottom of some hellhole before calling it quits.
It is my opinion that any good (fairly heavy for caliber) bullet traveling at .30-06 velocities will do an effective job on a calm broadside elk at reasonable ranges.