I totally agree with this statement. If you are buying a 300WM to do 450yrd shots, I would first learn/practice how to call elk, bring them in (thats the fun part) and stalk to within closer ranges to make a good clean kill.
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Problem is, they don't always come and getting closer is not always an option.
And for some of us, shooting cleanly and well at 400 or 450 yards is MORE fun than calling them in, even if we could. Not wrong or morally inferior, just different and both are OK. BTW, my #1 meat getter Elk rifle is a 8mm rem mag case necked up to .338 cal. Works great with Barnes 225gr TTSX's at 3150fps.
