Petersen's Hunting Small Cartridges For Big Game Hunting: Fantastic Or Foolish? Should you hunt elk with a .223? The small cartridge debate wages on. May 29, 2026 By Joseph von Benedikt Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.There’s a movement trending in certain online circles suggesting that small-caliber cartridges (.223 Rem, 6mm Creedmoor, etc.) are not only adequate for use on big game such as elk and moose, but are actually better than traditional, potent cartridges such as the .30-06 and .300 Win. Mag. Additionally, certain small-diameter target bullets are believed to kill more effectively than traditional hunting bullets. (Tested Tough: "Continue Reading