Between my father and myself we've taken over 40 elk with a 270 win using 130 gr Speer boat tails. Not one time have we ever lost an elk and not very many occasions shot more than one or two shots. You don't even have to be a sniper to shoot elk with a 270 win. It will blow through both shoulders on a elk just like a 30-06 or any rifle at closer ranges. But who wants to waste meat? And if you build the right load it's flatter and over powering a lot of larger calibers at 500yds. Am I a 270 fan heck ya it was built for how I like to shoot. But I also like my 300 WM that's a honey with 165 grs. Threw that in there so it wouldn't seem bias. LOL