The closest experience I have was a 7mm T/cu with a 120 gr NBT at 30 yards on a large whitetail buck broadside. I had good lung blood for a while then it dwindled to small spots. I believe I hit a rib and didn't get penetration to both lungs. Never recovered the buck. This was from a 14" Contender with a scope and is very accurate with that load. We tracked the deer for a very long way before we lost all blood. If you know you can do it' why ask an internet forum for others experience? You had to know the answers you would get. The mono bullet will help if you get the expansion you need. I would still feel better with the 30-30 170 gr but I have no elk experience with that either. I did kill a bull with a 230 gn 54 cal round ball at 110 yards.
Shawn
That may not be the case. The 120 grain 7mm Ballistic Tip is actually a pretty stiff bullet. Given the small cartridge and relatively short barrel the impact velocity may have been short of what it takes to dramatically upset that bullet on a pure lung shot.
