re: Best rifle for elk hunting

Have been elk hunting out west for almost 8 years now and killing and recovering every time. What I can tell you is the majority of locals I hunt with in Utah use regular 270 win. I use a 7mag and have recently upgraded to a Fierce. My wife uses a .270 wby and she got there by using a locals rifle and liked it so much she now has one. She shoots 140 gr accubonds and the have not failed yet. Generally I’m a fan of the heavier the bullets the better but accuracy is king. Don’t have the expectation that you will drop the elk in its tracks. I have not seen this happen pretty much ever even with a 300. You will most likely have to shoot the animal multiple times. That being said if you get a good hit with a smaller caliber/ lighter bullet you will have a opportunity for a follow up vs a poor hit with a cannon. You need a rifle you are comfortable with and is accurate and repeatable. Factory ammo is probably the biggest concern you will have as repeatability will sometimes be lacking.