Given the most popular Elk cartridge, and doing high school math a/b = c/d, we can see the 223 is way to big for even the biggest mule buck.
What happens is boys guns weigh ~ 5 pounds and men's guns weigh ~10 pounds. There is power, range, and recoil to deal with. We optimize and they work backwards to justify our answer.
In my situation, I weigh 160 pounds, shoot deer to 600 yards, carry the rifle for just a few miles, not afraid of recoil, but it screws up my accuracy.
This puts me in the 7mmRM 140 gr optimum zone.
If you are 300 pounds and shoot from the truck or 125 pounds and climb mountains, that may not be right for you.... or any of the other listed variables.
