I use one of two 30-06 rifles and don't own a magnum caliber. My western elk gun is an ultra lite 6 pound Ruger 77 with a Zeise 3X9 scope. My success rate has been 100% on western big game over the past 7 years for shot possibilities so that combination has been more than adequate. My still hunting bigs woods gun is a Remington 7600 carbine customized with a shotgun stock and a Williams peep and fire dot front sight similar to the guns the Benoit family used. I was answering the original post saying he had a choice between a 308, a .300 and a .338 and could shoot them all equally well. I have never needed anything more than the 06 for elk but can see where if a magnum caliber is properly shot it might open some opportunity for increasing odds on certain shots. I am not against waiting for a better more high percentage shot on elk or any other game. At some point that animal hopefully gets to a position where I know I can take him. At other times it slips away and I don't get that chance based on my confidence level with the weapon of choice. If all I have is a 350 yd shot across a canyon at a big bull I would rather do it with as much power and trajectory as possible. That is a hypothetical statement because none of my numerous big game kills have come at more than 210 yds. Most have been under 100 yds.

Pics of the still hunting gun where most shot opportunities come fast and are moving. While the gun is light weight and compact to carry while still hunting timber and swamps/ bogs of the big woods in the Northeast...I wouldn't want to use it with open sights on a 200 yd shot at a deer. For those shots a scoped gun would be a better fit just like a magnum might be a better fit for that once in a lifetime crack at a quartering bull at 350 yds just before he goes into the next county. Every gun caliber combination has its advantages. While my little carbine might not be the weapon of choice for open long range shots it is perfect for knocking down a deer jumped in a swamp where your only shot has to be fast. That red firedot front sight centered in the wide open Williams peep painted lipstick red against a brown body in a snow background is awesome.