I will offer you not over look the 300 win mag either. This year has cinched it for me. What I thought I have been seeing with different caliber and killing elk has now become so obvious that I will not sugar coat it any more. I have tested, owned, built and shot many 7 rem mags, 7mm-300 win mags, a few 7 stw's, a 7 RUM or two and others in the .284 family. With a variety of bullets from most of the prominent mfg's in weights including, 140, 150, 160, 168, 180 and now 195. I have also tested a variety of 30 cals, 300 win mag, 300 rum, 30-378, 30 Lapua, and so on. With bullets from the same mfg's in the 180, 190, 210, 215 and 230 gr weights. Hunted at most distances from 50 yards to over 1000 with most kills being from 350 to 800 yards. Yesterday as we are approaching the end of a very long season including two management elk hunts I took my second elk. That second elk put us at number 70 for the season and I have been right there for most of them. Sometimes 3 in one evening off the same hay field. What I have seen is this. Yes the 7mm will kill your elk just fine with a well placed bullet. But there is no doubt the 30 cal will simply take the life out of them faster. And the 388 faster yet. Now add the possibility of the placement being off just a little and this becomes even more obvious. This is not something to ignore. With increased distances the real life possibility of us being off a little is real. Trust me when I tell you that if you are off a little with any 7mm you better have another ready to go to that elk as soon as you can get back on it. The 30 cal and 338 will cover you here in most cases with heavy for caliber bullets. Some may not agree with this post, some may even resent it a little. But I offer this only for those who may benefit from my experience of taking and field dressing 100's of elk with the calibers and bullet mentioned.
Respectfully
Jeff