As stated, the 308 Win is a praticularly versatile and useful cartridge. In the hands of someone special, it will score kills on a broad range of game animals. At the ranges mentioned here (500-600 yds) and with proper 162-180 grain bullets, it has an optimum game weight use for clean kills on 300-400 lbs of animal. Are there exceptions, yes.
A couple of my good hunting fraternity are trophy hunters, and you would never see them walking into a hunt with shots out at 500 plus yards with a 308 Win. Trophy hunting is a bit of a different game as most use the flattest trajectory with the heaviest bullet for wind bucking ability they can find, all the while maintaing tremendous energy for clean kills with lethal penetration. These guys shoot custom built and barreled various 7mm STW, 7mm RUM, 338-378 Wby and 338 RUM. The 338s are by far the best at delivering the complete package on big animals at extreme range (600-700 yrds). For mule deer and antelope, the big sevens produce lighter recoil then 30 mags and deliver big hits with laser beam trajectories.
The feat of killing a mature bull elk cleanly at 600 yards (Which is trophy hunting range by the way) with a 308 Win is far less likely than one who shoots one of the various 7 mags from that distance or better yet any 338 mag.
Activities such as this one are all about probability, one usually increases the odds in their favor as best they can.
