243 for elk

[Dan-o]

Sounds like the consensus is to go up, unless I want to always do head shots 😁. Going to miss my 4-pound tack driving .243 though. I can shoot a 300 mag  off a bench all day. In the real world, taking offhand shots with a 9-pound gun after lugging it up the side of a mountain is so much less fun. Agreed on the recoil flinching. Most of us can take a shoulder-pounding at the range without pulling shots, but in the field some corner of our mind knows a heavy recoil gun might punish you for failing to tuck it in perfectly, or for having your eye just a little too close to the scope. Might have to build me a setup with a big ol’ recoil pad and some glass that has lots of eye relief.

Why 30-06 over.270 or 7mm, though? The recoil isn’t all that different, and the flatter trajectory gets you some range.

Between 270, 30-06 and 7MM Mag I would choose the 7MM Mag.......   When I hunt elk with modern rifle, I always pick my trusty 7MM Mag.    But any of those three is a significant step up from a 243.

I suggested 30-06 because it's so popular and you can shoot elk at distance with it.   Most folks shouldn't be shooting at elk at 500 yards anyway, and all 3 of these will shoot out there.   (just most hunters can't.).

You really need a good, stout  elk bullet no matter what caliber you choose.

[northwesthunter84]

You don’t need a heavy 300. 280AI,7mm and 30.06 are great elk calibers too. I feel a hot 6.5 has plenty of energy. I run a Tikka 7RM and that gun is right about 8.5lb. Plenty of guns out there that are light and that don’t kick bad either. Stout bullets are necessary though. The partions, accubonds, ELDx, coppers like hammers or TSX annd plenty of others. One thing that has not been said yet but gun season will be just as busy as archery season even up high. Archery is tons of fun.

[Moose Master]

Welcome to Washington, you have been given some really good insights to rifle choices and bullets.
This isn't your east coast whitetails, these are a magnificent animal that will go up and down mountains all day long.  They are also not the numbers of them like whitetails.  When your opportunity comes you will want a clean hammering shot.  It's worth every second while in pursuit of these animals.  Good luck

[7mmfan]

7mm is fine. It's all I've ever shot and never had a problem. 160 gr accubond, or similar,  or 140-150 gr copper and you're in good shape.

[hunter399]

I say use it.
Alot of the same could be said about using 223 for deer.
Is it the best choice. Probably not, can it be done,yes it can.
But I've always been the type to make due with what you got.
I use 243 for bears sometimes.
Elk and bear are the toughest animals your gonna find in Washington for general seasons.
Know your limits of what your rifle can do.
If a second shot is possible ,keep shooting till it's down.
It will work ,if that's all you got.

[Fidelk]

New to Washington, and new elk hunter........Sounds like my tack might be high country with modern firearm.

Here’s the question. Can one take down an elk with a .243?

There's another question that will need to be asked......how many special permit points do you have? Also.....did you buy special permit applications for this season?  Are you hunting Eastern or Western WA for elk? Without a successful special hunt draw, you will be hunting for spike elk only in E. WA......along with most other hunters.

[Ridgeratt]

Fidoelk if you review the current seasons there are several units open for any bull or any elk.

 Firearm

Aug. 1 2023-Jan. 20, 2024

Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink.

Antlerless only

Sept. 9-24

Elk Area 3722*

Antlerless only

Oct. 28-Nov. 5

101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117d, 121, 204

Any bull

Oct. 28-Nov. 5

145, 149d, 154,162 through 186, 249, 336 through 368

Spike bull

Oct. 28-Nov. 5

251, 328, 329, 334, 335

True spike bull

Oct. 28-Nov. 5

124 through 142, 372*, 382*, 388

Any elk

Oct. 28-Nov. 15

203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 272, 278d, 284, 290, 373d, 379d, 381

Any elk

Aug. 1-31

Master Hunters Only: 371. Must wear hunter orange and/or hunter pink.

Antlerless only

Dec. 9-31

Master Hunters Only: 127, 130

[Fidelk]

He needs to stay out of those 101, 105, etc. GMUs.......KF and HUNTIN4SIX ran me out of there several years ago.......good place to hunt deer but I think the locals tag out the elk up there.

[jason stevens]

With the right shot placement a .243 will harvest an elk everytime. Don't buy into the hype of bigger calibers. Use what you have an enjoy your season. Remember you can harvest an elk with a razor blade at the end of a stick. So your  243 will work . I've taken 5 cows with mine . One shot. (Permit in hand ).

[hunter399]

He needs to stay out of those 101, 105, etc. GMUs.......KF and HUNTIN4SIX ran me out of there several years ago.......good place to hunt deer but I think the locals tag out the elk up there.

I know where.
I don't hunt there much, but trust me .
I know all about those spots.
Got a few friends in low places.
I've known for a long time ,your secrect is safe with me.
Anybody eles ,can't really tell ya.

[dvolmer]

Just don't do it. Just my opinion. You can kill an elk with a well placed rock to the head, but not recommended either. Elk are thick, dense, and extremely tough animals.  Ive seen elk take three well placed 300 Win Mag shots and still not want to go down.  Im really big on down range bullet energy.  In this state you can hunt for years for elk and never get a shot opportunity. When and if you are blessed to ever have that opportunity, don't let yourself or the animal down.  Had a friend years ago shoot a big bull behind the front shoulder with a 6mm Remington (243 with a little bit more powder behind it). Chased and tracked the animal for miles and never did recover it. Just my thoughts. do as you please. 

[jrebel]

Just don't do it. Just my opinion. You can kill an elk with a well placed rock to the head, but not recommended either. Elk are thick, dense, and extremely tough animals.  Ive seen elk take three well placed 300 Win Mag shots and still not want to go down.  Im really big on down range bullet energy.  In this state you can hunt for years for elk and never get a shot opportunity. When and if you are blessed to ever have that opportunity, don't let yourself or the animal down.  Had a friend years ago shoot a big bull behind the front shoulder with a 6mm Remington (243 with a little bit more powder behind it). Chased and tracked the animal for miles and never did recover it. Just my thoughts. do as you please.

The old 6mm only stabilized 65-70 grain bullets with the slow twist rate.  Wonder if that was more the problem than the actual caliber.   Modern .243 (6mm) have a faster twist rate and most Hunters are shooting 90-105 grain bullets.   Bullet construction is also super important…..don’t shoot fragmenting bullets and make sure you have a bullet that can penetrate.    This is why arrows kill so well….they penetrate!!    The 300 win mag likely had a bullet that wasn’t penetrating before expansion.  Of course it could be the opposite….and a fmj just pencils through.   A good bullet out of the .243 will kill very effectively.   

[Taco280AI]

Can be done, as many have said, but I'd look at the 270, 7-08, 280, 280AI, 7mag, 308, 30-06 with Accubonds, Partition, TTSX, or LRX.

LRX is the only bullet I use on big game anymore.

[BKMFR]

With the right shot placement a .243 will harvest an elk everytime. Don't buy into the hype of bigger calibers. Use what you have an enjoy your season. Remember you can harvest an elk with a razor blade at the end of a stick. So your  243 will work . I've taken 5 cows with mine . One shot. (Permit in hand ).

There might be some limitations at longer ranges, other than that if you are accurate and have the confidence in your .243 it will work just fine. At least it has for me, multiple times.

[JWBINX]

Despite all the great replies:
The 243 is NOT elk Medicine!