The old timers must have been dang near insomniacs shooting piles of elk with 87gr bullets in their 250-3000's!!!!
The old timers didn't care that much or lose any sleep if they lost an elk, they would just go shoot another one. I am sure they shot and shot and shot until he went down too. And if they had a bigger gun/bullet, they would have used it.
I'm curious as to what you base your knowledge on....
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The APE
"But resist we much...we must...and we will much...about...that...be committed." - the "Reverend" Al Sharpton