Haven't seen the article. No longer subscribe to the SOS. Any of them.
Having carried (and not shot but one deer and my first moose with) a .30-30 for the last 45 years, I'd call it poor bullet placement, tho personally, 200 yards is pushing the .30-30's capability on elk IMO. Pushing, not exceeding. With good placement at that range, it should do the job. I suspect a .300 Mag in this instance would have achieved the same result- placement is placement, and a bad hit sucks.
I killed my one and only elk with a .260, bang-flop, at 150 yards, several years ago.
That isn't 'sposed to happen either.
My "walkaout' rifle here in Alaska is a '94 Winchester - my father's. Been carrying it around for over 20 years, never had to use it. I'm just not that curious on how it would do against a charging brown bear either!
On paper, it's better than a .44 Mag handgun.
