huntsman22
New member
bingo......
.243 for elk? d
- Thread starter d_myers57
- Start date
Quote:If everyone shot elk with a .243... we'd be a lot better hunters.
At least in our local elk hunting environment that would be wishful thinking. Big guns and running shoes will remain standard issue when the masses migrate from large cities to claim meat in one week season.
At least in our local elk hunting environment that would be wishful thinking. Big guns and running shoes will remain standard issue when the masses migrate from large cities to claim meat in one week season.
quarterbored
New member
There ain't going to be any more elk hunting in WA soon... if ya'll can't get the indians under control. Whacking and stacking all the bulls they want in the Clockum sure is doing damage to everyone over there. I left the great state of WA a couplpe months ago... I miss the fishin'... but the hunting has been going down hill fast over the last 10 years.
Now that's a hot topic. Tribal hunting/wasting often done as ceremonial is certainly a major roadblock. They go for the tough hunts at feeding stations or permit only areas, private property. Of course they have that never ending season too. Now we're giving them more money to buy land back that they sold decades ago. You had to get me started.
claimbuster
New member
Originally Posted By: pieeyedQuote:If everyone shot elk with a .243... we'd be a lot better hunters.
At least in our local elk hunting environment that would be wishful thinking. Big guns and running shoes will remain standard issue when the masses migrate from large cities to claim meat in one week season.
Therein may lie the solution. Right after the archery season we could have a special 243 season followed by the bigger rifles.
I know this horse should have been buried days ago; however, in opposition to the 243 proponents, I have a lot of Elmer Keith in me. I want heavy bullets that break bones, bullets that are not easily deflected. However, it still has to be something that I can shoot well.
Someday, there will be a 35 Whelen or 338-06 in my stable. Either of which is a near perfect elk cartridge in my opinion. I'm not good enough with a rifle to ensure a surgically placed shot every time. Particularly in any kind of condition, whether it be distance, angle, weather, brush, etc., etc. I sure as he11 don't want an injured animal wondering off to die a miserable death because I didn't do my job. I owe more than that as a hunter. So I'll stick with the bigger calibers and heavier bullets.
I just started pig hunting last spring and I decided to make my first trip with a 450 Bushmaster. I've got a 250gr. bullet mushing along at 2200fps and it busts pigs quite nicely at the distances I shoot. As an added benefit I get quick follow on shots. First results, two shots, two pigs at 130 yds. Event #2 comes up in three weeks.
I do remember my high school physics very well and that KE = 1/2 MV(2). So if I double the velocity, I quadruple the kinetic energy with the same weight bullet. However, I still don't trust a 100gr. bullet smashing through a heavy rib bone on an elk at any velocity.
Sorry guys, but I'll stick to the heavier rifles.
This is coming from a guy that quit using the 17HMR on PD's as it does not provide consistently good kills.
Whew! I'm out of breath!
At least in our local elk hunting environment that would be wishful thinking. Big guns and running shoes will remain standard issue when the masses migrate from large cities to claim meat in one week season.
Therein may lie the solution. Right after the archery season we could have a special 243 season followed by the bigger rifles.
I know this horse should have been buried days ago; however, in opposition to the 243 proponents, I have a lot of Elmer Keith in me. I want heavy bullets that break bones, bullets that are not easily deflected. However, it still has to be something that I can shoot well.
Someday, there will be a 35 Whelen or 338-06 in my stable. Either of which is a near perfect elk cartridge in my opinion. I'm not good enough with a rifle to ensure a surgically placed shot every time. Particularly in any kind of condition, whether it be distance, angle, weather, brush, etc., etc. I sure as he11 don't want an injured animal wondering off to die a miserable death because I didn't do my job. I owe more than that as a hunter. So I'll stick with the bigger calibers and heavier bullets.
I just started pig hunting last spring and I decided to make my first trip with a 450 Bushmaster. I've got a 250gr. bullet mushing along at 2200fps and it busts pigs quite nicely at the distances I shoot. As an added benefit I get quick follow on shots. First results, two shots, two pigs at 130 yds. Event #2 comes up in three weeks.
I do remember my high school physics very well and that KE = 1/2 MV(2). So if I double the velocity, I quadruple the kinetic energy with the same weight bullet. However, I still don't trust a 100gr. bullet smashing through a heavy rib bone on an elk at any velocity.
Sorry guys, but I'll stick to the heavier rifles.
This is coming from a guy that quit using the 17HMR on PD's as it does not provide consistently good kills.
Whew! I'm out of breath!
Urimaginaryfrnd
New member
I miss having Elk in the backyard - here I only have deer in the backyard.
MPFD
Well-known member
I was up In Idaho giving a class a couple weeks ago and it sounds to me like the wolves are being pretty hard on the elk population, from what the Techs up there were telling me. I say we put these .243's to work killing wolves since it's apparently finally legal to do now...
RePete
New member
Originally Posted By: bigwheeler JB I know what the numbers say, I also know some 350 pound cow is
not what most guys want to go out and shoot.
If you want to run some numbers, I think you'll find that those 2x4 bottom cords on your trusses aren't even close to being rated for that kinda load,,, buttt,, they do get the job done even though we all know a 2x6 would better..
OK,,, now what was the original question??
Oh yea,,, Elk calibers..
Here's a pic I posted on another thread but it's pretty revelent to this thread too. (I think?)
I found this Cow which was shot in the azz with a cartrige big enough to penetrate the ham, shatter the femer, and punch through into the gut. She was far from dead when I found her though so I shot her in the head with my 17Rem at 30yrds.. Well, that didn't kill her either so unfortunatly I had to shoot her again.
Now that big boomer the first guy was using would have obviously done the trick with the same shot placement as my 17,, however the 17 obviously didn't do any better with a well placed shot than the big boomer did with a poorly placed shot..
Somewhere in the middle of all this it comes down to ethics and good judgement..
Im other words,,, "use enough gun,, but one that you can shoot well, and choose your shots"..
OK,,, now I'm off to solve all the questions on the 22cal for everything thread,, and maybe share a glass of prune juice with Claimbuster..
Carry On
not what most guys want to go out and shoot.
If you want to run some numbers, I think you'll find that those 2x4 bottom cords on your trusses aren't even close to being rated for that kinda load,,, buttt,, they do get the job done even though we all know a 2x6 would better..
OK,,, now what was the original question??
Oh yea,,, Elk calibers..
Here's a pic I posted on another thread but it's pretty revelent to this thread too. (I think?)
I found this Cow which was shot in the azz with a cartrige big enough to penetrate the ham, shatter the femer, and punch through into the gut. She was far from dead when I found her though so I shot her in the head with my 17Rem at 30yrds.. Well, that didn't kill her either so unfortunatly I had to shoot her again.
Now that big boomer the first guy was using would have obviously done the trick with the same shot placement as my 17,, however the 17 obviously didn't do any better with a well placed shot than the big boomer did with a poorly placed shot..
Somewhere in the middle of all this it comes down to ethics and good judgement..
Im other words,,, "use enough gun,, but one that you can shoot well, and choose your shots"..
OK,,, now I'm off to solve all the questions on the 22cal for everything thread,, and maybe share a glass of prune juice with Claimbuster..
Carry On
brdeano
New member
Originally Posted By: RePete
OK,,, now I'm off to solve all the questions on the 22cal for everything thread,, and maybe share a glass of prune juice with Claimbuster..
Carry On
My solution was to just click the "back" button. I dont' have any beer but I could use a couple after reading through these last couple threads.
I'm just glad we have enough ice to get out fishing. It's too early in the season for all this cabin fever. I'll check back in about March.
OK,,, now I'm off to solve all the questions on the 22cal for everything thread,, and maybe share a glass of prune juice with Claimbuster..
Carry On
My solution was to just click the "back" button. I dont' have any beer but I could use a couple after reading through these last couple threads.
I'm just glad we have enough ice to get out fishing. It's too early in the season for all this cabin fever. I'll check back in about March.
quarterbored
New member
So does a 200 Accubond in the paunch anchor elk? Or, could it be that shot placement and bullet construction pretty much trump headstamp and "energy" calculations.
It's pretty amazing that since the advent of the internet critters of all sizes are suddely concerned with the headstamp and caliber of the bullet they're shot with... and refuse to die if the offending caliber isn't within the constrains of what internet gurus and gun writters deem necessary to kill said critter. Soon we'll have whitetailed deer and bull elk designing all of our cartridges... since apparently only they know what is required to do them in.
It's pretty amazing that since the advent of the internet critters of all sizes are suddely concerned with the headstamp and caliber of the bullet they're shot with... and refuse to die if the offending caliber isn't within the constrains of what internet gurus and gun writters deem necessary to kill said critter. Soon we'll have whitetailed deer and bull elk designing all of our cartridges... since apparently only they know what is required to do them in.
I'll tell it this way:
I'd much rather shoot a nice bull elk with a .243 at 150 yards than to be taking a 500+ yard shot with a .300 RUM.
Yet a lot of folks "frown" on using a .243 at all, but think a 500 yard shot with a .300 RUM is "normal". Heck, a bunch of folks seem to think nothing of even 800-1000 yard shots with the bigger thumpers, but it's pretty easy to make a bad hit at those ranges.
In fact, I'd bet that more elk are wounded and lost at those ranges than are shot and found, but the ones that lose 'em won't mention it. I've seen enough elk with holes in 'em after a long range "barrage" to know, and most were never followed up because the shooter couldn't tell IF they'd hit one, much less which one.
My dad and a partner once took 2 elk from a herd of about 30 after just such a long-range barrage. Both of those elk had fresh holes in 'em before dad and his partner shot them, but they were still running good and no one ever came to see if they'd hit them or not.
I can't help but wonder how many others they hit in that bunch.
Daryl
I'd much rather shoot a nice bull elk with a .243 at 150 yards than to be taking a 500+ yard shot with a .300 RUM.
Yet a lot of folks "frown" on using a .243 at all, but think a 500 yard shot with a .300 RUM is "normal". Heck, a bunch of folks seem to think nothing of even 800-1000 yard shots with the bigger thumpers, but it's pretty easy to make a bad hit at those ranges.
In fact, I'd bet that more elk are wounded and lost at those ranges than are shot and found, but the ones that lose 'em won't mention it. I've seen enough elk with holes in 'em after a long range "barrage" to know, and most were never followed up because the shooter couldn't tell IF they'd hit one, much less which one.
My dad and a partner once took 2 elk from a herd of about 30 after just such a long-range barrage. Both of those elk had fresh holes in 'em before dad and his partner shot them, but they were still running good and no one ever came to see if they'd hit them or not.
I can't help but wonder how many others they hit in that bunch.
Daryl
Bayou City Boy
New member
Normal knowledgeable hunters who feel that using a larger caliber rifle with a good bullet do not all think a 500 yard shot is "normal". Not by a long stretch of any ones' imagination.
By some of the comments tossed around here, it's almost like several folks in this thread have decided you're a great white hunter if you use a 243 and a slob hunter if you use anything larger on elk.
Get real, folks.... And quit patting yourselves on the back...
-BCB
By some of the comments tossed around here, it's almost like several folks in this thread have decided you're a great white hunter if you use a 243 and a slob hunter if you use anything larger on elk.
Get real, folks.... And quit patting yourselves on the back...
-BCB
quarterbored
New member
You're a slob hunter if you expect caliber and "energy" to make up for poor shot selection/placement. What caliber you use makes no difference...
Bayou City Boy
New member
Originally Posted By: quarterboredYou're a slob hunter if you expect caliber and "energy" to make up for poor shot selection/placement. What caliber you use makes no difference...
I'll say it again....using enough gun to get the job done efficiently does not make someone a slob hunter.
You dudes with the belief that a 243 Win is the answer to all issues related to elk hunting are painting a very flat picture of reality... And of other hunters...
Carry on.... The self-righteous back patting is getting silly.
-BCB
I'll say it again....using enough gun to get the job done efficiently does not make someone a slob hunter.
You dudes with the belief that a 243 Win is the answer to all issues related to elk hunting are painting a very flat picture of reality... And of other hunters...
Carry on.... The self-righteous back patting is getting silly.
-BCB
Quote:Normal knowledgeable hunters who feel that using a larger caliber rifle with a good bullet do not all think a 500 yard shot is "normal". Not by a long stretch of any ones' imagination.
By some of the comments tossed around here, it's almost like several folks in this thread have decided you're a great white hunter if you use a 243 and a slob hunter if you use anything larger on elk.
Get real, folks.... And quit patting yourselves on the back...
Yep
I remember at least one post bragging about shooting elk at long range, 500 yds with a .243.
By some of the comments tossed around here, it's almost like several folks in this thread have decided you're a great white hunter if you use a 243 and a slob hunter if you use anything larger on elk.
Get real, folks.... And quit patting yourselves on the back...
Yep
I remember at least one post bragging about shooting elk at long range, 500 yds with a .243.
quarterbored
New member
No one is saying it's the answer to all things elk hunting... what I'm saying is if proper scruples are adhered to... then it will work, and work much better than most nay-sayers are anticipating. I've seen elk shot with a .243... more than one... none made it more than 50 yards. I've also seen elk shot with .30's and .338's that were never found.
My take on elk is this... if we all acted as though we were shooting a bow (or smaller caliber rifle), and adhered to a strict policy of taking only solid high-percentage shots... then there'd be a lot more discussion of propper elk skinning knives and packing equipment... than of necessary calibers for their harvest.
My take on elk is this... if we all acted as though we were shooting a bow (or smaller caliber rifle), and adhered to a strict policy of taking only solid high-percentage shots... then there'd be a lot more discussion of propper elk skinning knives and packing equipment... than of necessary calibers for their harvest.
Don Fischer
New member
I'm not so sure of that but I'd bet there would be a lot more wounded ones!
quarterbored
New member
There would be a lot LESS wounded ones... go back and read what I said.
The WDFW just closed a bow hunting season about 20 days early after it had just opened in Skagit county.
the conduct of hunters has become disorderly and unsportsmanlike. About 20 hunters killed about 7 elk with bow & arrow. An unethical show that will have lasting effects.
the conduct of hunters has become disorderly and unsportsmanlike. About 20 hunters killed about 7 elk with bow & arrow. An unethical show that will have lasting effects.