I have taken many elk with a .243. savage... at 250 yards or less had good success. But I had a big bull out at 400 yards and I just kept putting rounds into him... and he wasn't even acting like I was connecting! took a few shot before he finally went down. All in the Vitals! Not a whole lot of knock down power down range in my opinion...I upgraded to a 300 Ultra Mag.... It rolls them over nicely at any range! Bigger is better in my opinion, elk are tough and there is no worse feeling than having one get away.