I use to have strong opinions on bullet weight and design for elk when I was younger. But in the last 25 years of elk hunting, Im convinced that its not so much the weight and design but placement, placement, and placement. If you cant shoot your gun straight, no matter if its a 243 or 460 Weatherby, give up on elk and spare the animal of the misery.
Elk can be hard to down (not as hard as moose but hard) and if you dont place the bullet in the vitals, its gone and you better be somewhat good at tracking if you plan on eating it.
I have seen an elk downed with a single shot from a 243 with a 100 grain bullet but that rifle was in the hands of a marksman (not me, I wouldnt use anything less than a 25-06 on elk and that would be in a pinch). Ive tracked a poorly hit elk for a mile that was hit 2 times with a 375 H&H.
If I were to pick a good elk caliber, it would be something like this.
At the lowest end, 25-06. The 270s, the medium (7mm Mauser) and up 7mms, the medium 30 caliber (300 savage) up to the high mags. 338 up to the 375 H&H are ok but not necessary. 45/70, 38-55 are nice black timber brush guns.
For elk I use a 7mm Rem Mag and a 45/70. Ive used a 300 Win Mag for a number of years but it never really gave me more than the 7mm except more recoil. As far as bullet selection, I use a 160-gr. Sierra HPBT. It works every time Ive pulled the trigger and I can drop it in the dirt and the rocks and it doesnt deform.
:money:
