I've killed a couple of elk...
1). Use your 270. I have, it's ideal.
2). Take the money you would have put into a new rifle and buy the very best binoculars you can afford. Then spend a bit more.
THIS, in spades. You can use your optics every weekend, high end glass will boost your spotting and confidence and you'll never regret the huge hole in your wallet.
Or so I like to tell myself...
