243 for elk

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Originally Posted By: huntsman22yep.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY0w1c-gf18&feature=player_embedded

First off that is a great shot, and secondly i think that pretty much sums up what i said, if you precisely place the bullet then there is nothing to worry about, but if there is any possibility for less than perfect shot placement, then you may be better off with a larger caliber to hopefully do more damage if the bullet is somewhat off course.

Like I said, JMHO and YMMV

Happy Hunting
 
I say like others if you have something bigger use it. Many many Elk are taken every year with a .257 Roberts. I am not sure how many are taken with a 6mm or a .243 probably less but it can be done. For Elk a .270 with 150 grain Sierra GameKing is about as small as I would want to go.
 
I have seen an elk killed with a .243. However I consider it to small for elk. Anything .270 up would be my reccomendation. Here in WYO its legal but not reccomended.
 
for me whitetailes are not created equal. the ones in alberta weigh 300 pounds and cost $7k to hunt. the ones here weigh 60 to 90 pounds and i can hunt them every year 42.00 . the 243 can kill an elk. are you going gamble on an under powered round on an expensive hunt, the gun is least of your cost. i have guided hunters to over 30 elk killed. the .243 was marginal at best in their hands.
 
Will it kill an elk? Yes. Is it the best choice? Not even close.

Even if the hunter is a kid, woman, are a smaller framed man, there are far better choices than the .243.
 
Which legal calibers have less recoil for those of whom you presume to speak of? And of these afforementioned 'legal calibers', how are they better?
 
Quote:Not recommended by who? Seems to me if it is legal, the State IS recommending it, albeit as a MINIMUM.

I really don't consider a minimum caliber listed as a recommendation by the state.

A .25 auto pistol meets the minimum standard here. Beyond basic common sense I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone admitting a recommendation as a big game round.
 
Having seen quite a few elk killed, cleanly, with 243's and 6mm Rem's; and using my 243 for many different critters, I use my 30-06 for elk.
Although I prefer the 06 for elk, OTOH, I would NOT feel greatly handicapped if I had my 243 with me.
Mark
 
Originally Posted By: huntsman22Which legal calibers have less recoil for those of whom you presume to speak of? And of these afforementioned 'legal calibers', how are they better?

A .270 with a muzzle brake. I'll let you try and figure out how it is better.
 
Originally Posted By: buddyi was thinking of shots 50 to 100 yds and using a 100 gr bullet.

You have either never been elk hunting or...........you have the best [beeep] spot on the map.
 
Originally Posted By: LUCKYDOGOriginally Posted By: buddyi was thinking of shots 50 to 100 yds and using a 100 gr bullet.

You have either never been elk hunting or...........you have the best [beeep] spot on the map.

The last elk i took with a 243 was a spike bull at 40 yards tops in the neck. I dont think it is the best spot on the map, so i must have not been elk hunting
rolleyes.gif
 
Originally Posted By: bigsky_songdogsOriginally Posted By: LUCKYDOGOriginally Posted By: buddyi was thinking of shots 50 to 100 yds and using a 100 gr bullet.

You have either never been elk hunting or...........you have the best [beeep] spot on the map.

The last elk i took with a 243 was a spike bull at 40 yards tops in the neck. I dont think it is the best spot on the map, so i must have not been elk hunting
rolleyes.gif


The last three bulls that I shot were within 15 to 20 yards. If I went elk hunting hoping that was going to be the senerio every time, then I would be blowing smoke up my own arse. When you are elk hunting on public land in Colorado, you need to be prepared for longer shots. You can hope for less but it may not happen. I'm a very good caller and have better luck than most but I'm not going to go elk hunting thinking that 100 yard shots or less, is going to put meat on the table.

Edit- I'm not a great elk hunter but I have killed 7 bulls, that were all do it yourself hunts. So, I know a little.
 
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I have shot pronghorn and mule deer with 100 Gr bullets out of a 243 Win rifle. The largest animal was about 200 Lbs. An elk can be three times as big ie 600 Lbs. So I have used a 270 Win, 308 Norma Mag and 340 Weatherby Mag. rifles to kill elk. Why limit your shooting range because of the low energy of a 243 bullet to take a shot at any angle on an elk ? You all can use any sub energy cartridge rifle but if you end up hunting elk often, you will pass up shots or will be tracking wounded elk. I like quick kills from my 340 W M. rifle.
 
Originally Posted By: LUCKYDOGOriginally Posted By: bigsky_songdogsOriginally Posted By: LUCKYDOGOriginally Posted By: buddyi was thinking of shots 50 to 100 yds and using a 100 gr bullet.

You have either never been elk hunting or...........you have the best [beeep] spot on the map.

The last elk i took with a 243 was a spike bull at 40 yards tops in the neck. I dont think it is the best spot on the map, so i must have not been elk hunting
rolleyes.gif


The last three bulls that I shot were within 15 to 20 yards. If I went elk hunting hoping that was going to be the senerio every time, then I would be blowing smoke up my own arse. When you are elk hunting on public land in Colorado, you need to be prepared for longer shots. You can hope for less but it may not happen. I'm a very good caller and have better luck than most but I'm not going to go elk hunting thinking that 100 yard shots or less, is going to put meat on the table.

Edit- I'm not a great elk hunter but I have killed 7 bulls, that were all do it yourself hunts. So, I know a little.

i know what you mean, and i agree with you, but i just responded to what you said and i didnt agree that one statement. I know how public land hunting in the west is. All my hunting growing up and living in Montana has been DIY on mostly public land. That said thinking back most of my shots on elk, and most of all the elk ive seen others kill have been pretty close (200yds max, most 100yds or less) thats not to discredit what you are saying, just a general statement i just thought of.
 
Yeah, I agree with you. My longest shot on an elk was probably around 175 yards. That being said, I passed on a very nice elk last year at 385 yards. I had a long time to make the shot. The problem was, I had a 30.06 short barrel that I had never shot at over 200 yards. It is the same rifle that I smoked my deer this year at 180 yards. I had to pass on the shot and it really pissed me off. I didn't draw this year but i have a brand new 300 RUM that is sighted in and ready to go for next year.
 
ya, ive had the same problem last year. a stud of a bull for that area, a 6x5 probly 340" , lots of mass and almost black antlers.(i know its not 400" like every one always talks about without ever actually seeing one.lol) was across a ravine at around 400 yards, but that is 100 yards further than i had ever shot at an animal with my '06 and didnt want to hail mary it in the wind and risk wounding him so i sat there watching him bask in t he sun with his herd. It wasnt all bad, i dropped into the ravine where i had seen tracks from a different herd dropped down and ran into a raghorn and shot him at like 60 yards in the timber. An elks an elk to me, but i would have like to dump the big guy.
 
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