To the OP - I've killed 5 elk with the 444 at 150 yards or less. Four were one shot kills, the elk just stood there or took a couple steps then got wobbly and fell over. One was quartering to and shot through the front shoulder joint, put another one in him because I didn't like the angle on the first shot. First shot destroyed the knuckle joint, penetrated both lungs, and was found just under the skin on the off side.
All were taken with a Barnes XPB 225 grain bullet over H4198 or H335 (too much muzzle flash with H335). I did some wet news paper and water filled milk jug penetration studies and found the XPB slightly out penetrated the Hornady 265 grain flatnose, and no worries about it staying together. The four one shot kills were broadside with pass throughs, as was the insurance shot on the fifth elk.
