Bear, load you up some hot 139gr Interlocks and slam Elk with that rifle too buddy. I've dropped a few with mine. It's a little light for Elk but within 250-300 yards with the right load it performs quite well on them. As you said, better than the published ballistics would have people believe. Of course I'm one of those idiots that hunts Moose with a little ole .30-30 that has trouble killing anything bigger than a squirrel according to the "experts" so wutdoIknow