mlog,
let me refrase my answer,
great to see your going elk hunting,
muzzy is a fun way to pursue your game.
I have used - owned a night, a kuntucky long gun, remington,
and now shoot a winchester,
out of all the guns the winchester is by far the best i have shot.
they say the twist and such that it doesn't do well with the conicals.
but in my case i have found buffalo bullets to be just the ticket for me at 200 yds.
again there is a lot said about cleaning and swabing your gun every shot.
I have put over 3,000 rounds thru my winchester.
and have kept charts on many groups of loads, powder preformance,
so clean verses dirty, well my gun shoots best at the third, forth and fifth shot.
after 8 or so i will break it apart and clean it.
they say keep your power dry. well if you use a good bullet lube you don't have a problem. even a slight coat on the powerbelt help.
good luck on you hunt.