I shot a large cow elk in AZ in 2005 with a 140gr Barnes XLC. It was a hard quartering towards shot (probably 20deg from head on). The bullet was recovered in the chest cavity after shattering, but failing to go past a rib. I handloaded that bullet to a chrono'd 2850fps in my CZ-550 6.5x55mm rifle. Range was ~100-120yards.
Personally after that experience I would choose a heavier caliber for elk (my choice was another CZ-550 in 9.3x62mm), especially if you're going after larger bulls at potentially longer ranges. Granted the elk died and did not go all that far (35 yards), but there was absolutly no blood trail becuase the entrance wound closed up and there was no exit wound. Had she not gotten the memo that she was dead and and run a long ways rather than piling up a short distance away I never would have found her due to the lack of a blood trail. If it was still all I had, and I needed to kill an elk, I would use it again. But even with a premium bullet I'd restrict my shots to <150 yards and +- 20deg from perfect broadside.
