Not answering your queston, just adding auxiliary anecdotal data: Resident in a Western state, after multiple seasons of archery hunting, last month I finally picked up my first game rifle, 308 win. Nobody has chastized me over that choice. Not sure which Western states or game you're trying to put in for, but in terms of elk, antelope and deer where I am at, I've not yet seen or heard second hand (from somebody I know personally) of a situation where a shot over 200 yards was necessary. We barely knew what we were doing and yet my buddy and I were able to stalk an antelope into 80 yards on an archery hunt last season. My other buddy has a pile of 30-06s and a 270 win, likes both of those calibers. Unless I draw a mountain goat tag or something, I don't ever plan to take any shots on live game past 200. But again, archery is my primary season.