I have never taken an elk with a handgun but I have taken them with a muzzleloader. Standard 44 mag loads would be the rough equivalent of a muzzleoader shooting sabots with 100 grains or less powder. My experiece is as follows: Do not use hollow pts--you need penetration more than expansion; 240 grain bullets will work but are marginal if you hit big bones--use the heavy weight bullets (I am a fan of 300 grain jacketed soft points); get in as close as you can; and hit them in the right place--I prefer a lung shot in about the lower third of the chest. Good luck.