Bigbulls,
I don't think you are a rare breed. I myself want to hunt them, (ELK) instead of shooting them a mile away. But that is why I mostly bowhunt. My last 3 bowkills have all been under 20 yards, the closest being 3 yards away. Very cool, very exciting!!! A lot, if not all of the bow hunters think along the same lines. So why have a rifle hunt? And why have a rifle that can reach out and clobber them. Well there are times that I or others don't have the time to bowhunt. This year I only had 3 Days to elk hunt for myself. I did hunt with my wife on her hunt for 12 days, but that was her hunt, not mine. On my hunt I was invited by my in-laws on their general bull hunt. Lots of hunters and new country for me. It all added up to not good odds for me. Now if a bull elk were to step out at 500 or 600 yards away and was broadside, I wanted a gun that could get the job done. That is why I bought a 300 RUM this year. And it is my only big game rifle because I haven't had the need for one for a lot of years. As it turned out the bulls were still talking opening day, Oct. 15, and I called my bull into me at 70 or so yards. Yes a 30-06 or even a 30-30 could have worked just fine. But I liked having the bigger gun just in case, things were not right. And it was nice that the bull dropped like a rock at the shot. Not trying to start a war and definately not wanting to offend you, just trying to explain my reasons for owning and using the rifle that I have now. Thanks, Idahoelkinstructor