The perfect elk rifle/cartridge is the one in your hands when hunting elk. This is not rocket science.
Just make sure the cartridge goes with said rifle. I was reading somewhere where this dumb azz brought the wrong ammo for his rifle when he went elk hunting last year... Forgot who that was...
I heard that also. Discovered .45-70 ammo wouldn't chamber in the .257 Roberts worth a damn...
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
Just make sure the cartridge goes with said rifle. I was reading somewhere where this dumb azz brought the wrong ammo for his rifle when he went elk hunting last year... Forgot who that was... 
