I have taken my share of elk here in Idaho, I would be more concerned about the broadhead than I would the arrow. I have taken them with aluminum and also carbon. Both were tipped with a cut on impact style broadhead. With each I was pushing over 70 lbs. of KE. I don't think that there is a bull alive that could stop that combination. With elk, penetration is the name of the game. The farthest recovery I had was 75 yards. Most have fallen within 30-60 yards. Good luck on your hunt, nothing beats an elk in the rut bugling down your backside.