Jerry that's a good point. I have hunted places for whitetail and hogs where you couldn't get a 100 yard shot because it was so thick. In Colorado and other western states shots of several hundred yards are very common. 200 or 300 yard shots(or longer) on mulies, antelpoe and elk happen all season every season. I prefer not to hunt that way and I prefer to get as close as I can to the animal, it makes it much more fun. I have killed four elk with a rifle that were 10 to 25 yards. However, I practice as much as I can out to longer distances. My buddie has a range in the foothils that has a 16"x16" gong at 540 yards. When you can bang that gong all day long you feel prepared to take the shot even if that is not the shot you are really looking for.

I have witnessed morons that are not capable of those shots, blazing away and reloading. I have also witnesed guys that are perfectly capable of making 500 yard shots, that let the animal walk and try to get closer. I like to be prepared for anything but I will never go under gunned. It's just stupid.

I still think there is a place for .243's in elk hunting but it should be the exception, not the rule.