AS one gets older, the best Elk/deer/moose/whatever cartridge in the world becomes the one that can fit in a lightweight, easy to carry, rifle. Such a rifle allows you "stay in the game", thereby seeing more county, and thereby possibly seeing more game. That doesn't mean it shouldn't have enough juice to get the job done when and if you do see game, and to do so at a reasonable distance.
So, for me, as I get damn old, I don't care so much about the caliber as the weight, and I currently think the best elk/whatever rifle is the Kimber Montana in .325 WSM. Extremely light weight, and shoots a 200 grain Nosler partition with enough authority to be confident out to maybe 350 yards or more.
