You can never go wrong with a .338, you could take anything in north America with it and most other species with it worldwide. I own one and have shot several elk with it. I am proponent of using cartridges that have what I call an any angle capability meaning that no matter what the target presents you can get through to the plumbing. I helped a friend several years ago when he gut shot a cow elk with a 7 Weatherby and it was leaving town. He was not terribly experienced and asked for back up, I poked his cow with a .338 Win mag with a Barnes 215 at a pretty steep angle at about 200'. It went in right in front of the left hip and left town through the paunch. The cow made it about another twenty yards behind a bush and piled up. I have since stepped down to a 7 mag and try not to put myself in sketchy shot situations and only pull the trigger when I know the animal is going down. So many good cartridges out there but the bottom line is know your limits with what you are working with.
Yep...remember the pack mules we used. A whole string of them to go get the elk off that freezing cold mountain. I think we shot some bucks that trip too.
Biger is better for sure but don't depart from common sense when it comes to what you can do responsibly and with confidence.
