Ya, I've had the smallest rifle on a couple of elk hunts, once a 7mm Rem mag, the last one in 2016, my 30-06 rifle. Both times were first hit kills!That worked.
Am absolutely convinced it's more about where ya hit 'em, and then which bullet, and last the cartridge choice. Critters drop to so many different cartridges and bullets. What they don't usually drop from are poor hits.
Guy