It should be a shooter.
IIRC, Elmer was not a fan of the heavy bullets to carry through the paunch, but to travel straight after impact. He and Bob Hagel were also fans of "if you need to shoot the hip to put an Elk down in the thick stuff, Take it out". There is a lot to be said for that in the thick dark timber they hunted.
Me I went with the little brother when I found an Encore in 7mm 08 for the cost of the action this fall. I put three whitetail down with it, all does, and it does a fine job.
I am mostly shooting over fields when they come out at dark and used the Hornaday 139 gr over Varget.