Marlin 336W 30-30 win. 2nd would be my latest acquisition... Tikka T-3 hunter in .338 Federal. Although I have never hunted elk (not much opportunity here in south Louisiana), I find both of these to be sufficient for Whitetails and hopefully wild boar if I ever get that chance.

>300wm or my 45/70.That 45/70 would be my first choice.Just love that round!!!!

Deer: 7X57mm Mauser. Elk: 7mm Rem. Mag. BOTH are used in Ruger No. 1's....... a 1A & a 1B. With 175-grain bullets to keep meat damage down.

A deer/Elk combo gun? Either my 8mm/06 Mauser or my Savage 110 30/06. 6 to one 1/2 dozen to the other.
For deer only? My Swedish 6.5 X 55 Sporter or my 7 X 57 Steyr.
I currently don't have anything larger than my 8mm/06 or 30/06 to consider for an Elk only gun.
If I had a 35 Whelen or a .338 Win Mag either of those would do a tad better for a combo gun or an elk only. For me anyway.

I have zero experience with elk. White tail and mule deer only. By far, more experience with white tail hunting. Most of that in the deep south. My favorite rifle is the one I have now that my wife gave me for my 50th birthday. A Styer Pro-Hunter, "Mountain Rifle", in 308 Win.While admittedly most shots are 100 yards or less, one of my two mule deer bucks was taken at a ranged 328 yards.

Sort of adding to the thread about "small" caliber vs. "large" caliber hunting bullets for deer.Yep, size matters up to a point, but the No. 1 key isto put the ball in the basket.

When I turned 18 in 1977I bought aRemington700 BDL IN 7mmMag. A while back I bought a 700BDL-SSalso in 7mm Mag. I love this round!

.30-378 for Elk, great for long shots. I have taken an Elk at nearly 800 yards and one at 450.
.30-06 or 7Mag for deer.

I started bowhunting 8 years ago and have only gun hunted three times since though so they are collecting dust.

i agree with the 300 wsm