243 for elk

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There are documented cases of elephants and grizzlies being killed with a 22 rimfire. Does that mean they are acceptable for the job? Of course not. A little common sense goes a long way when choosing what is and what is not a suitable caliber for the job. I've never shot an elk, but if I am lucky enough to draw an elk tag here in Kentucky, I sure wouldn't use my 243.
 
^^^ ky elk regs will make sure you don't. Gotta use .270 or larger.

Dosent make much sense to me...but what do I know about elk?
 
I've shot many many elk.
i shot 1 with the 243
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its the only one i ever shot that didn't get a ride in the truck
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and i shot it 3 times in the boiler room.
when i got home i went out and bought a elk rifle.
i think mule deer is the max sized animal with the 243.
all that being said the 243 IS my favorite rifle its just not a elk rifle.
my cousin lost a spike hit once in the boiler room and once in the neck with a 30-0-6 180 grain bullet
i went to the 300 mag and no elk has taken a step since.
kinda like takin a knife to a gun fight in my book.
as far as legal caliber the smallest legal caliber for big game doesn't meen its good for large big game what is fine for goats and whitetail doesn't make it the right choice for elk or buffalo.
i wish I'd have taken pictures of some failures I've seen on mule deer with the 243 to put this thread to rest.
what i have seen out of the 243 is why i bought a 270 for mule deer. the 243 isn't the best on them either, works in a pinch but isn't my recommendation in calibers.
as far as the kick, if you can't handle the kick of the mule - get out of the pasture. only time you feel a kick is shooting at paper get a lead sled. with a bull in your sites you will never feel that 1 shot.
what good is a shot in the boiler room if it stops before entering the chest cavity. seen it in elk and on mule deer.
 
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Originally Posted By: LUCKYDOGEven if the hunter is a kid, woman, are a smaller framed man, there are far better choices than the .243.

Originally Posted By: LUCKYDOG
A .270 with a muzzle brake. I'll let you try and figure out how it is better.

Somebody jump in and help me here. I just hauled Junior,Missy and Shorty to a couple gunshops to get 'em 270's with brakes, like ol' Lucky advised. Noone seems to carry them, much less know where a fella can get one before season is over. And the sales dude told me the blast is more likely to induce flinch than the recoil is. Was he just an 'idiot behind the counter' kinda guy, or what?
 
yep don't we have these two posts every year?
i keep the popcorn close by.
whats the next thread? i'm betting summertime coyote hunting. same threads every year and i've seen 10 of them.
except the 17hmr, one of those every month thats 120 of them.
how about spit wads and pea shooters would ya hunt elk with them if they were legal? 243 would beat them at it but not by much.
 
it just might lets use it. it will save our strength for the pack out after it runs 7 miles into the deepest darkest hole in the forest.
if it runs into a tree and puts its other eye out we could cut its throat
 
Originally Posted By: getfoxyYea, factory rifles with brakes? Who knew

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/


Your google-foo is strong, o-wise-beyond-your-years-Grasshoppa....

But find me some (in a shop) that are in a lightweight model that Missy, Shorty and Junior can actually carry in the field by their limited own strength....
 
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If you are going to hunt elk in Pa, I am sure that it was not too easy to get a permit. With that being said, why would you want to use a very marginal caliber after investing in the hunt? A 50 cal mz will work fine with the right bullets, but if you have the option of using either, why not get at least a .308 and have the confidence to take whatever shot presents itself instead of wondering if your firearm is up to the task?

I knew a guy in Az that used to hunt with a .243. I don't think he ever lost one, but he shot a few to rag dolls before they dropped. If you feel compelled to use it, use a 100+ grain partition, Barnes etc. and not a standard-quality bullet.
 
I didnt have to google, I shoot one in a 300 WM.

My local shop had it..750$ out the door

With the brake and 180g prohunters...recoil is just about like a 243 with a 100g bullet
 
8.75...under 9# I'd say he could. Lighter choices out there? Yea sure, but I'd rather have a heavier hitter in 2# heavier rifle than a .243 in a 7# rifle.

Just my 2 cents. Whose junior? A 10 year old kid? I don't think he would be hunting by himself anyway
 
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