I killed my first several elk with a 25-35, my dad killed at least 50 with a 250 Savage, I have killed a couple with that same 250 Savage. My mom killed a rabid horse with a 22 rifle.
Elk rifles start at the 30-06 IMO, and I base that on experience. Any caliber will kill an elk or an elephant for that matter. What has that got to do with hunting? If you want to hunt with a inferior caliber then be prepared to pass up many easy shots and good bulls to prove your point, or figure on wounding a lot of animals.
Shooting elk at 170 yards with a 22-250 is just a stunt, and it could go either way, I wonder how many she has left wounded in the mountains of Montana...I have seen light bullets from varmint guns blow up on deer several times, so good shooting isn't the answer to all, its just one part of the equasion.
