"Its all about shot placement"

Never a truer statement said. This why until I can shoot an elk that is tied up broadside to me where it can't move and I have a bench rest with a gun vise to shoot with, I will use a bigger bullet.

And, yes, people lose elk with 7 mags, but I would take a 7 mag on a marginal hit any day over a small, pure lead bullet.

That said, I know a guy who kills an elk every year with a 30-30.