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Hand loaded?

I have killed most of my elk with my .06and that is more than a few. Next would be the.308. After that,a smattering of 7mag, 45-70, 44 mag, 50 cal muzzle loader.I don't subscribe to the notion that bullets must exit .It does have to penetrate to the vitals and finding it under the hide on the far side has happened more often than not with me.
Before all these wonder bullets came out,I killed my elk with 180 gr Sierra Game Kings, Sierra 220 gr RN, Speer 180 gr spire points, the old Norma boat tails.Presently, Nosler 180 gr partitions because Shooters Pro shop had them for $13.box of 50. Pure led bullets out of a 50 cal muzzle loader. I can't say any died faster or slower with that range of bullets.

I agree that a person has to select the right bullet for the job, but it is equally,or maybe even more so to put it in the right place.
BTW, I have killed several elk with that 200 gr RN in excess of 350 yards,one shot kills.Guys that bad mouth them most likely never used them.
I don't have any hard proof,but I bet a lot more elk have been killed with180 gr Coreloks than any other bullets in an.06.

Mackay_Sagebrush is spot on

yup

This-both are elk killers and kick much less than say a 338WM

I would choose the 308 & hunt with confidence.

I only have 6 of them.

Good advice!

Not calibers, cartridges.

All four of your choices will take elk cleanly and with no fuss.

I’d probably choose the lightest rifle you shoot well and I simply wouldn’t worry which of those four cartridges that rifle was chambered in. I’d find a good elk bullet it likes then go forth and kill elk.

I've killed elk with a 300 SAUM, 300 WSM, 270 win - all with Nosler bullets. 2 with 180 Accubond, 2 with 180 Partitions, 2 with 150 Partitions. There's a theme running through the kills. Cartridges listed are all about equal to your 308/30-06. I'd find whichever Nosler product both guns liked, you need a back-up, and go forth. My longest shot to date is a bit over 200 yards. Closest 15-20 feet. You stand a better chance of running into an elk at point blank range than the classic across the meadow/canyon shot. I'd pick a bullet with a decent BC but also with the structural integrity to handle the 20 footer. A close range quarter-to shot is asking alot from a bullet. Partitions are up to the task. 😎

My rifle pair last year - 270 with 150 Partitions and 308 with 180 Sierras. Rifle pair this year, likely be a 280 AI with 160 Accubonds and a 308 with 180 Sierras. Your rifles are fine. Put the shot in the right spot and roll up your sleeves because the real work starts then.

Bravo!! Two excellent choices.

I gotta say, my Kimber Montana in 308 has become my favorite rifle. Its hard to leave it in the gun safe.............

I would take the 30-06 and use a quality 180 grain bullet. I also wouldn’t be planning on a 400 yard shot. I’m no Elk expert, but I think one is more likely to find them in cover on public land, than out in an open field.

Spend the money on upgrading optics if you don’t already have top tier glass performance. Happy Trails

That's a good point. I have a ton to learn about elk. As far as binos, can you get decent ones without spending a lot of money? I was doing some research and it seems like most guys (at least online posters) spend in the $1,000 to $2500 range. That seems pretty expensive to me for that one item. I'll do it if there is a significant difference in quality and performance. I suspect there is a certain price point under which binoculars are pretty much junk and a price point over which they are top of the line but maybe only marginally better that mid-priced. I way this because there always seems to be a sweet spot for consumer goods. Cheapskate junky products, the medium range quality products and the luxury goods for the elitists. Anything in the $500ish range perform well?

On binos - call Doug at Cameraland. I was in your shoes ~ 12-13 years ago. Doug guided me to Minox 10x42 (forget exact model). I did a Mule Deer type optical test with the Minox and various Leica, Swarovski, and Bushnell binoculars I scrounged from friends/family. The Minox didn't give up a whole lot to any of them and were ~ $500 out the door. I'm still using them.............

Thanks. As a starting point, is 8x42 about the right size?

I used Nikon Monarch binocs out West, good enough for my purpose.

take the one you like to shoot most and shoot it often. where you place the shot is more important that getting all wrapped up in which caliber to use. I have only taken 9 elk in 25 years of hunting, but 7 of those were with a 270 and 150 grain nosler partitions, the other two were 30-06 with plain ole sierra 180 grain. all one shot kills, the elk seemed to be uninterested in what was killing them.

^^^^^^This^^^^^^

Try some Vortex 168TTSX 30-06 ammo and even 150TTSX in the 308, see if your rifles like them. I like the mono bullets on thick skin/heavy muscle animals as big as elk myself. Also, you don't need a big, heavy scope; something like 1.5x5, 2x7, 2.5x8, and even a standard 3x9 is OK. It needs to be waterproof, of course (:)) as you are more likely to get rained on than snowed on, depending. You want a wide field of view, big game animals don't need magnifying, right? The reason is your shots are very, very likely to be on moving, even running, elk at oblique angles since "90% of the elk spend 90% of their time in the 90% thickest part of the mountains, ha. Get on a game trail and ease along, use a cow elk call just a little.
Any binoc up to 10x is fine, and I find I prefer 8x ( especially since my dear Pastor "gave" me a Swarovski 8x30 20 yrs ago, ha) more quality has more resolution so it takes less power to actually see things. But small enough to slip inside your coat or coat pocket. Read, read, read...take advantage of other folks experiences ( good and bad) ask questions a lot, especially on how to get that big sucker out of the woods! I like the rolled up plastic slides, depending up the terrain. You can always bone out the meat, put in an Army duffle bag, rig up a good harness and drag out behind you. Will work and even be easier to get through some down timber ( yes, there will be down timber) ha, hopefully not, but you can't "look a chicken in the face and tell how fat it is"....that means you may start out "seeing" them in the picture perfect meadow, but end up "killing" him in doghair thickets! But it is so much fun!! Wool is always good hunting clothes, but you have time to get a good set of high tech, lightweight, waterproof clothes. Pay big money for at least one set of it, stay funky for 5 days or go for it and get two sets, you won't need more. Have a great time, preparation time is never wasted time. Oh yeah...take me with you when you go? ha