So, when the chips are down and you're looking for a good clean kill way out there, you'd really want a big 30 or 338. While many will say a 7mm or 6.5 will get it done with great placement, why chance it? Don't we all want a quick efficient kill for our quarry? 215, 230, 250 on up at 2800fps or more. You get the benefits of great BC, plus the added comfort of the added energy from a larger bullet. LIke its been said, why risk a 7mm not punching a shoulder because of a bad wind read or animal movement? A good elk rifle starts with 3 and leaves 2 holes, all the time. There's no such thing as overkill.
Holy crap this is killing me...
Let's run some numbers people:
Berger 195 7mm@3000 fps has 1737 ft lbs at 1000 yards and will drift 3.75 moa 10 mph cross wind.
215 vld 300 mag @2900 fps has 1640 ft lbs at 1000 and drifts 4.5moa
If you're feeling frisky a 250 vld 338 rum @2900 fps has 1807 ft lbs @ 1000 yards and drifts 4.75 moa
Seriously what is the argument here????
For the record I just dropped a bull in his tracks at 940 yards with a 147 grain 6.5 caliber bullet at 3050fps.
The shot wasn't perfect.. and yes it blew through the shoulder. He tumbled approx. 200 feet down the mountain.
Now would I have preferred my 7mm for that shot? hell yes! but I was hitting 8"targets the day before @1k and I felt extremely capable of making a clean shot.
Shoot whatever .30 or .338 you feel good about, but please try to understand that an elk caliber does not have to begin with a .30 or bigger.
I bought into that crock when I first started long range hunting, and have since traded my 338 for a much more practical 7mm.
Again if a 338 tickles your fancy then great...
just don't tell everyone else it's what they need