Yep, these kind of threads always have a little bit of the "ONE TIME AT BAND CAMP" mentality.
First, under the most ideal conditions and PERFECT shot placement you'll hear how many elk are killed with a .243 WIN: and then it will be stated that it was a cow shot with a .243 and not a mature bull ..... huge difference my friends.
Second, what kind of shot was presented? Was it a perfect broadside shot under 150 yards? Of course smaller calibers will kill an elk under ideal conditions.
LASTLY, what kind of hunter are you? Have you haunted elk for decades and don't really care if the big one gets away? Are you a crack shot that can place an OFFHAND shot at 200 yards into an 8-10 inch vital area?
The OP should, as an ethical hunter, rephrase the question to something like .... "WHAT IS THE MINIMUM CARTRIDGE THAT THE AVERAGE SHOOTER SHOULD BE USING TO HUNT ELK"?
