Can't help on the elk or sheep, but the deer shot with a .243 and .257 were apparently just as dead as ones killed with bigger cartridges, and died just as fast. If you're going light in weight on the rifle, definitely go light on the round to spare your old bones, nothing over a 6.5 or maybe a 7-08 with lighter bullets. I plan to carry my 6mm CM again this year, but with 115gr Bergers instead of the 95 TTSXs I toted last year. Only lightweight rifle for a heavier round I've shot recently was a Kimber Hunter 6.5, and it had noticeably more recoil than my lighter Barrett.
