Two calibers ... two elk.
I've just returned from a very successful cow elk hunt in NM. Before I left, as always there were discussions of calibers and bullet combinations.
Well I had the very real pleasure of hunting with a very nice young man of 14 who was on his first elk hunt....heck, his first big game hunt of his life. He won the hunt in a raffle and his Dad picked up the additional costs. A friend of his loaned him a rifle, a 270 loaded with 130 gr. CoreLocks which he used to kill a large cow at about 400 yards.
Yours truly used a 300 Win Mag to accomplish the same deed only seconds before but it was so much better watching this little guy score on his first try.
We will continue to argue (as no doubt someone will) about calibers and bullets but this young man proved that a magnum rifle isn't necessary if your shot is placed right.
Congratulations Lewis. You did a great job! You were a pleasure to hunt with and you can hunt with me anytime.