I've gotten somewhere north of two dozen elk with the BDL in 270 Win I bought in the late 60s. I killed a bunch of deer and black bears too with it, so I know it's plenty of gun for elk. I gave that rifle to my youngest son (he's right handed, my older son is a leftie and he has one too) and he got his first elk with it already. I bought a used 270 Weatherby Mark V but just can't find myself to want to take it out in the woods. The 500 just comes up to my shoulder naturally and swings like a fine shotgun. So the 500 it is ...