There is quite a difference in hunting elk that have been running or on high alert than shooting one that is just relaxed and grazing. When that adrenalin gets flowing it is hard to bring one down. Those mountain elk are tough critters for sure. Personally i think a 300 mag is an excellent caliber to use on elk. Nothing smaller in my opinion and yes i have seen some brought down with much smaller calibers. Also have seen many hit and lost using smaller calibers. It of course helps greatly on which bullet you use and being able to hit your spot.
One of my bull moose that i got was on the edge of the swamp water and i waited and called to get his attention to turn and look at me so i could put one between the eyes. We didn't want to hit him in the heart and lungs as he would have made it into the water. Dropped like a sack of potatoes! Of course i was using "Chester" my first Winchester 300 magnum model 70 the i bought for my 16th birthday. That was many many years ago when i bought that rifle. That gun has brought down many deer, elk, and moose. Very accurate rifle too.
I just cringe when i hear people say their gun is sighted in and they can hit a pie plate. I was never satisfied until mine were able to be covered by a quarter. Practice is the name of the game. If i didn't hit my target where i wanted to with that rifle or my 22-250 it was user error and not the guns fault. Of course now i probably couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a scoop shovel. Used to laugh at the old timers that this happened too and never understood it until i got old. Now i am one of them! Quit hunting about 5 or 8 years ago at least. Now i would rather take pictures rather than shooting.
Good luck hunting!
One of my bull moose that i got was on the edge of the swamp water and i waited and called to get his attention to turn and look at me so i could put one between the eyes. We didn't want to hit him in the heart and lungs as he would have made it into the water. Dropped like a sack of potatoes! Of course i was using "Chester" my first Winchester 300 magnum model 70 the i bought for my 16th birthday. That was many many years ago when i bought that rifle. That gun has brought down many deer, elk, and moose. Very accurate rifle too.
I just cringe when i hear people say their gun is sighted in and they can hit a pie plate. I was never satisfied until mine were able to be covered by a quarter. Practice is the name of the game. If i didn't hit my target where i wanted to with that rifle or my 22-250 it was user error and not the guns fault. Of course now i probably couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a scoop shovel. Used to laugh at the old timers that this happened too and never understood it until i got old. Now i am one of them! Quit hunting about 5 or 8 years ago at least. Now i would rather take pictures rather than shooting.
Good luck hunting!