So what wrong with a .243 on Elk?

[Greg Duerr]

D.Cam

I dont have any experiance to speak of. I have shot one Large Bull, and I used a 300 Win Mag 180gr at just over 400 yards. He turned and walked up a hill for about 100 yards turned back and looked at me before he waivered and stumbled and went to the Ground. The bullet went through the lungs and broke the far shoulder. I agree with you totally, as after that experiance I had a lot of respect for Elk, or big Bulls.
This year will be only be a one time thing and it will be on a Cow and I will be shooting a .243 AI............I dont plan on it becoming a habit. If I lived in a place where I could buy an Elk tag over the counter I would probably be shooting a 30cal Magnum.
Its enjoyable to post a question like I did to see all of the different opinions.....but for the most part those people, like yourself, who have lots of experiance all have the same feelings and opinions. For several years I wanted a .338-06, still do, kind of.................but after I buy a new quad I will be saving up for a new Rifle...............and I will be back here looking for more advice and opinions from those with the experiance that really matters.

Greg

 

[Red Sparky]

Reading this thread my only question is why does it being a cow make any difference? Yes the cows are smaller than mature bulls but it is still a large animal with the same anatomy. Some of the cows here are as big as a 5 point rag horn. I feel any animals life to put meat on my table deserves respect. For me personally that means using enough gun for a quick humane kill, doing all I can to reduce Murphy's Law. The .243 is the minimum caliber for elk here in NM so it is legal. If I was going to give up my ML to go elk hunting with a centerfire, and I did not have another rifle, I would buy a Savage or Ruger American in '06 or 7mm for under $500 new in the box. Then I would practice, practice, practice.

 

[D.Camilleri]

D.Cam

I dont have any experiance to speak of. I have shot one Large Bull, and I used a 300 Win Mag 180gr at just over 400 yards. He turned and walked up a hill for about 100 yards turned back and looked at me before he waivered and stumbled and went to the Ground. The bullet went through the lungs and broke the far shoulder. I agree with you totally, as after that experiance I had a lot of respect for Elk, or big Bulls.
This year will be only be a one time thing and it will be on a Cow and I will be shooting a .243 AI............I dont plan on it becoming a habit. If I lived in a place where I could buy an Elk tag over the counter I would probably be shooting a 30cal Magnum.
Its enjoyable to post a question like I did to see all of the different opinions.....but for the most part those people, like yourself, who have lots of experiance all have the same feelings and opinions. For several years I wanted a .338-06, still do, kind of.................but after I buy a new quad I will be saving up for a new Rifle...............and I will be back here looking for more advice and opinions from those with the experiance that really matters.

Greg

I won't tell you that using a 243 is a bad idea, what I will tell you is that you will need to have the patience to wait for your shot, broadside in the lungs, and use a bullet that will penetrate deep and not blow up on the skin. Several years ago I was hunting antelope with a buddy and he shot a buck with a 243 at probably around 300 yards. The shot should have been good, but the bullet failed to penetrate deeply enough. It made a large surface wound and the antelope required several more shots and some tracking. Poor bullet performance probably accounts for more lost animals every year than all the caliber arguments combined. A bullet that is great in one caliber, might only be marginal in another caliber. The answer is to find people that have lots of experience and report good facts and pick a good bullet, and heavy for caliber for elk is my choice. If the shot isn't true and bone is struck, you want the bullet to break bone.

So, have a great hunt with your 243, pick a good shot and make it count. Keep the yardage where you can maintain around 1000 ft lbs of energy at the target.

 

[Greg Duerr]

I will be shooting the Sierra Pro Hunter 100gr.......................that bullet give me super accuracy shooting groups that average .306 Velocity is right at 3300 for the Ackley version, and yes next year up in Idaho I will be shooting somthing bigger. So far Im set on a .280 Ackley.....................Cooper Excaliber. 168gr Berger VLD

Greg

 

[25 Otter]

Lots of very interesting input here. It seems all the bigger hunting forums have a 243 for elk thread on them lately. There are so many things in this one that ring true to me personally I figured I'd touch on them a bit. First off,I'm no kid anymore myself. Like some of the posters here. Been a gun nut for right around 40 years now. tried a bunch of them too. I currently have a Mountain Guide M700 in 243. I just can't leave it alone. It's such a sweet little rifle I'm thinking of having another similar to it built this winter in 7 Rem Mag. Also,I too have some neck issues to deal with. My big hammers are history. The 300 Ultra and 338 are no longer within my recoil limits. I know todays brakes are well worth the effort,and can appreciate their benefits. I don't want to endure the noise,or subject my daughter to it. She's my huntin' buddy now and I figure we can work around the recoil thing for now without a brake. I spend a lot of time down in the reloading room fiddling with the rifles and reflecting on all things hunting. With all the hub bub about the 243 these days I asked myself if I had to, could i finish out my days with just that little Remington Mountain rifle. You know,I think I could. With the bulk of my hunting being deer and varmint type critters,and elk every other year,I'd darn sure head out with it than stay home. The darn thing just plain shoots where I point it. I'm not determined to kill something every time I leave the farm. Waiting for the right shot isn't a problem,and if it doesn't happen there is always tomorrow. I'd sooner pack out her elk than one of my own anyway,lol. If I had to rely on the 243 for elk hunting I'd load her up with the best dual core or monolithic bullet it would shoot at upper end speed. Mount the very best glass on her I could afford. Even if it meant a small loan. Then go enjoy the mountains.

 

[Greg Duerr]

otter

Well said, I agree totally. Last year my son and I hunted Black Bear. It was Caleb's first big game hunt and my first time for Black Bear. I was told twice that the .243 was NO Black Bear cartridge. Just like you said, my .243AI just plain shoots. Openning day we spotted a nice brown colored Blacky eating acorns. I ranged him at 211 yards and Caleb sent a 95gr Berger right through the lungs. Funny thing happened, the Bear dropped in his tracks and never moved again. I guess that was not suppose to happen. Skinning the Bear out was another surprise the lungs were shredded, I could not ask for better performance. I would guess that that was not suppose to happen either. One of the guys that told me that all the .243 is good for is Varmints, asked me to get out of his home because I told him otherwise. I hunted for another week and saw a few females with cubs but in the end it was another great hunt, as I will never forget the look and smiles on Caleb's face with his first big game hunt.
I like the idea of having only one rifle and the only rifle I have really shoots. For Deer as far as im conserned it great for Deer .............Limiting myself to no longer than a 400 yard shot. I do feel good about buying a .280AI and though it might not be a 800yrd Elk Rifle ...............I will be more than pleased when I can be proficiant at 500...........

For me being out in the wide open and seeing good bucks or bulls is really 90% of why im really out there.

 

[25 Otter]

Now that's what I'm talking about. Congrats to you both on the bear,and the quality time afield. Funny thing about the 243. If you look through the Eastman's Hunting Journal,in the youth success photos. You will see most of the youngsters are shooting 243s. If it's fine for an inexperienced youngster,why isn't it adequate for a seasoned rifleman? Seems like a contradiction in terms. Some of them are pictured with critters I'd be happy with too. Not just fawns and calves mind you. I'm not saying the 243 or any other similar round is ideal for all situations. Nothing is. But it isn't without merit.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I'll go ahead and jump in to this topic. I'll keep it short and sweet. If you're asking the question, there is a reason. I've been around a ton of elk shot and they are just plain tough animals. Period. There is no substitute for horsepower. Period. Can you kill and elk with smaller calibers? Absolutely. Should you? Well, that is up to you. For me, no.

Randy

 

[westcliffe01]

Controversial subjects, designed to stir people up. Some call it trolling.

Shooting large game with pea shooters

Going hunting without tags

Building a $2000+ rifle and choosing a 243 - 9 twist Ackley Improved barrel, when the intention is to shoot 105 and 115gr Bergers. Regardless that everyone else is using an 8 twist successfully.

The OP certainly has a way of doing things...

 

[TOM H]

otter

Well said, I agree totally. Last year my son and I hunted Black Bear. It was Caleb's first big game hunt and my first time for Black Bear. I was told twice that the .243 was NO Black Bear cartridge. Just like you said, my .243AI just plain shoots. Openning day we spotted a nice brown colored Blacky eating acorns. I ranged him at 211 yards and Caleb sent a 95gr Berger right through the lungs. Funny thing happened, the Bear dropped in his tracks and never moved again. I guess that was not suppose to happen. Skinning the Bear out was another surprise the lungs were shredded, I could not ask for better performance. I would guess that that was not suppose to happen either. One of the guys that told me that all the .243 is good for is Varmints, asked me to get out of his home because I told him otherwise. I hunted for another week and saw a few females with cubs but in the end it was another great hunt, as I will never forget the look and smiles on Caleb's face with his first big game hunt.
I like the idea of having only one rifle and the only rifle I have really shoots. For Deer as far as im conserned it great for Deer .............Limiting myself to no longer than a 400 yard shot. I do feel good about buying a .280AI and though it might not be a 800yrd Elk Rifle ...............I will be more than pleased when I can be proficiant at 500...........

For me being out in the wide open and seeing good bucks or bulls is really 90% of why im really out there.

What are you trying to teach your son how to cheat the system forgot about this old post


I live in Nevada and hunt with my son who lives outside of Quincy, Plumas County...............No baiting or Dogs in california.................however we kind of cheat a little..........

 

[Greg Duerr]

The system is after our guns When they tell you to trun them in ARE YOU...........if not your cheating the system, you become a law breaker . Our nation is all about laws....... It does not matter if you agree with them or not its still the law.

We dont like the idea of cheating the system as long as it does not cost US anything or if we dont have a problem with it. Our way of life is being chipped away piece by piece, and one day you wake up and its over.

Do you think that California stopped baiting or the use of Dogs because they are conserned about bears, its about hunting whats next ............No leaded bullets, whats next, no scoped rifles, whats next...........??

 

[Greg Duerr]

Whats a pea shooter??

 

[Greg Duerr]

Well with the the opinions I have heard I still dont feel that a 300 Mag is the way to go...............To much recoil, should have a MB, better weigh 10+ lbs.........

A 6.5-06 would be a huge improvement over a .243 Just might be the way I will go.

G

 

[rwk]

Too dam light, only from 20ft.