I have never hunted elk in Colorado, but I have killed 28 of the critters in Wyoming. I killed three of them with my bow and they went less than 75 yards so I guess about any rifle will do if you get under 20 yards and shoot them through both lungs.
In recent years I have been using a .30-338 just because I have an exceptionally accurate rifle and the recoil doesn't bother me. I have shot two elk with the .30-338 with 180 grain bullets.
The other 23 elk were killed with Winchester, Remington, Steyr, Kliengunther, Colt, Dakota, or Mannlicher Schoenaur rifles chambered in .30-06 loaded with 180 grain bullets. The six point bull I shot with my old Remington 721 topped with a Weaver K-4 scope died just as quickly as the one I killed with my Custom Sako .30-.338 fitted with a 2.2-9 Swarovski. My twin brother has killed as many elk as I have and he has never crippled one. He uses a .270 with 130 grain Sierra bullets. My older brother has killed more elk than I and he uses a .338 Win Mag and wouldn't even think of hunting elk with a .270. My 2 cents worth.
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