New high-BC cartridges aren't necessary out to 400 yards imo (6.5 Creed/PRC, 28 Nolser, 300 PRC, etc). Any standard 270/308/30-06/338 will easily kill elk out beyond 500 yards. I dropped a cow elk in her tracks at 500 yards 17 years ago with a 338-06 and 210gr Partition. Both bullets stopped at hide on opposite side (heart shot). Since then I enjoy tracking in the dark timber and shots are rarely past 100 yards (Bringing a 300 BLK with a red dot this year shooting Barnes 120gr).
So two shots dropped her in her tracks? They never did while levitating. I think the black out is just the gun for you.
