.243 for elk?

[boomstick]

My 13 year old son shot a moose last year is Spokane with a .243 you just need the right bullet something solid copper. Barnes x, nosler e-tip or similar. Keep under 200 yards.

[MountainWalk]

Elk hunting is tough business, and you'd better be tough too. If your hunting elk, you'd better be able to kill it cleanly. I for one do not have all season ro wait for text book "calender" shots. I hunt in the real world. I'm out to kill elk, not brag to folks how I killed this big ol animal with a peashooter.  Besides, who feels kick when letting loose at game.  If you can't handler at least a270, them you prolly shouldn't be elk hunting. 

[motg9_6]

opinions vary

[Biggerhammer]

I'd pretty much shoot anything with a .243 and the right bullet for the application. I prefer much bigger but in the end. Dead is dead. Who says it only takes one? I shoot them into the ground, however many it takes.

[akirkland]

opinions vary

Very much so. Good conversation though.

[kevinlisa06]

My great aunt in her hey day shot and killed quite a few elk with her .243 all about shot placement.


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[mountainman]

Who says it only takes one? I shoot them into the ground, however many it takes.

much prefer one accurate shot. One shot, one kill..pretty easy with an accurate, light recoiling .243

[Karl Blanchard]

I've mentioned this before but here is how I started my wife and how I do it now with my youth hunters.  I reload so I take a 130gr bullet for a .270 (caliber I am the biggest fan of for small framed shooters) and load it down to about 2,600fps, which if you shot it side by side with a .243 hunting load you could not tell the difference.  I have them practice with this load all summer and early fall.  That is the key, get them really comfortable with the gun itself.  Between the three boys this year they shot just over 150 rounds.  My youth hunters have taken over a dozen deer with this load over the last few years. That load is plenty good enough for all big game but if you wanted more knockdown power this is what I did for my wife's last elk hunt.

After the last shooting session I loaded those same bullets up to 2,900fps, took the rifle back out and zeroed it and she never even knew.  In the heat of battle recoil is not felt.  If you don't reload you can pick up some of those Remington reduced recoil loads and let her practice with those and then switch to a hunting load for game day.  My wife now shoots a 140gr bullet loaded to the max!  She is a 5ft, 115lb beast!

[Karl Blanchard]

I'd pretty much shoot anything with a .243 and the right bullet for the application. I prefer much bigger but in the end. Dead is dead. Who says it only takes one? I shoot them into the ground, however many it takes.

  I am the same way.  I don't care if I watch the impact of the bullet right behind the shoulder, if they are still on their feet I am shooting!  Bullets are cheap and tracking sucks!

[BULLBLASTER]

I'd pretty much shoot anything with a .243 and the right bullet for the application. I prefer much bigger but in the end. Dead is dead. Who says it only takes one? I shoot them into the ground, however many it takes.

  I am the same way.  I don't care if I watch the impact of the bullet right behind the shoulder, if they are still on their feet I am shooting!  Bullets are cheap and tracking sucks!

and ill add how much fun shooting at things is.

[runningboard]

I'd pretty much shoot anything with a .243 and the right bullet for the application. I prefer much bigger but in the end. Dead is dead. Who says it only takes one? I shoot them into the ground, however many it takes.

  I am the same way.  I don't care if I watch the impact of the bullet right behind the shoulder, if they are still on their feet I am shooting!  Bullets are cheap and tracking sucks!

I've told & retold my kids, "elk are tough animals, even if you are sure you hit it good in the right spot, if it is still standing, shoot it again."
on topic, I know a lady who has killed a truckload of elk over the years, always & still does use a .243

[REHJWA]

You might look at it this way;

You have a 400 class bull feeding unaware at 300 yards.  Beside you on at your vantage point you have a sub-MOA 243 loaded with 90 grain well constructed bullets - 3,200 at muzzle.  Beside that you have a Sub-MOA .270WSM loaded with 140 grain well constructed bullets - 3,200 at muzzle.  You shoot one every bit as well as you do the other.  Wind is about 10 mph going uphill. Rain is falling steady and the ground is soaked, blood trailing could be difficult.  The terrain is such that you will probably only get one single shot at this trophy of a lifetime.  How many are going to chose the .243? 

I don't think it would take me long to make a decision.  And if my decision would be so quick in the heat of the moment, why would it not be the same when afforded the time to make that same decision before the season starts?  Between 270WSM or 7mm Rem might be a little more difficult.  As would 300WM or 338WM.  But .243 or 270?  That's a pretty easy decision in my book.

The lady in the story did pass on a bigger bull because it was "out of her comfort range".

[RadSav]

Sounds like she has much more self control than the average elk hunter

[Curly]

If a .243 is the only rifle you own and you don't have time or money to get something more suitable for elk hunting, then sure, go elk hunting with the .243.  But if you do have the time and money to get something else, I think a person would be better off getting a different rifle unless they want to restrict themselves to perfect shot opportunities and closer shots.  With the limited amount of shot opportunities in this state for elk, I'd rather not have to wait for perfect shot opportunities.   

Heck, if recoil is an issue, put a brake on a .270 and recoil won't be an issue anymore.  (although I can't see recoil being an issue for many people with a .270 and 130 gr bullets).

[MountainWalk]

I wonder if any of these lightly armed sportsmen/women have ever lost an elk? I mean, we all make mistakes. Tons of lions in Africa have been killed with the 303 Brit; elephant too. But countless untold went crippled and or lost.     If you are going elk hunting, and do indeed plan on killing one, then you are going to have to pack him out. Thats worse than the kick of any  rifle.  Kick is just a flash instant of noise. I've never been bothered by recoil while on game. If you spend days after something, one flash instance of something isn' going to be a dec iding or limiting factor in getting the job done.