.243 Win perfect for elk
#24

ORIGINAL: northslope nimrod
.270 good for elk? Nope! Many of my old hunting buddies used to use the .270. Most have switched now after years of elk getting away. Will it kill the elk? YES. Will you find the elk once it dies......probably not.
.243 for elk? My cousin used one the first year he hunted elk. I think he actually killed a four point. He shot it at about 80 yards. It then...luckily...ran straight at him and he shot it in the chest and it finally dropped. I use 180 grain soft in a 30-06 and I'm STILL nervous about dropping them. Last year I shot a 6x6 through the liver at 40 yards....I then shot him in the lungs as he ran twice more. Then I shot him in the neck and he fell. Then he ran again and I shot him in the neck and he fell dead. My point...even at close range... you may not hit the perfect vital spot.....The larger calibers hopefully will give you the added "shock" to drop him. The .243 is too risky...unless you like and stick to head shots.
.270 good for elk? Nope! Many of my old hunting buddies used to use the .270. Most have switched now after years of elk getting away. Will it kill the elk? YES. Will you find the elk once it dies......probably not.
.243 for elk? My cousin used one the first year he hunted elk. I think he actually killed a four point. He shot it at about 80 yards. It then...luckily...ran straight at him and he shot it in the chest and it finally dropped. I use 180 grain soft in a 30-06 and I'm STILL nervous about dropping them. Last year I shot a 6x6 through the liver at 40 yards....I then shot him in the lungs as he ran twice more. Then I shot him in the neck and he fell. Then he ran again and I shot him in the neck and he fell dead. My point...even at close range... you may not hit the perfect vital spot.....The larger calibers hopefully will give you the added "shock" to drop him. The .243 is too risky...unless you like and stick to head shots.
WOW! Thats CUT & WRAP, MAN!!!
#25
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Prince George, BC
Posts: 209

yeah i think a .243 is a little light, i would start with at least 7MM and go from there, i personally would use a 30-06 or .300 for that type of animal. i use my 30-06 and havent had a problem shooting moose, so elk should be close to the same.
#26
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: lebanon pa USA
Posts: 652

If I had a choice of using a .243, or my bow, hunting elk in September. I would choose my bow any day of the week.
Oh for you guys who say a .270 isnt an elk gun.
Shot with a 7mm-08 at 60 yards, it dropped where it stood. Bullet went thru both shoulders.
#27

ORIGINAL: Buckshot
Your kidding me right? you really think that a bow is a more effective weapon that a PROPERLY loaded .243? There isnt an elk alive that will travel far after being hit thru the lungs with a PROPERLY loaded .243. Remember its not what you hit them with its where you hit them, an elk shot thru the guts with a ultra mag is still an elk shot thru the guts. Now having said that the .243 is not an elk cartridge, to many things can and will go wrong with a shot to rely on a bare minimum cartridge. On a side note, my buddy from Arco has shot more elk than than you could stack up in a tractor trailer with a 22-250.
Oh for you guys who say a .270 isnt an elk gun.
Shot with a 7mm-08 at 60 yards, it dropped where it stood. Bullet went thru both shoulders.
If I had a choice of using a .243, or my bow, hunting elk in September. I would choose my bow any day of the week.
Oh for you guys who say a .270 isnt an elk gun.
Shot with a 7mm-08 at 60 yards, it dropped where it stood. Bullet went thru both shoulders.
Guys read the top of picture {.270} not {.243}this is what I'm reffering too! .270 YES!!!
#28
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NW Wyoming
Posts: 312

On a side note, my buddy from Arco has shot more elk than than you could stack up in a tractor trailer with a 22-250.
#29

ORIGINAL: RandyA
Where is Arco? I don't know of a single western state where a 22-250 is even legal to hunt elk with.
On a side note, my buddy from Arco has shot more elk than than you could stack up in a tractor trailer with a 22-250.
Randy...he didn't say LEGAL....he said 22-250! Arco might stand for ARCADE?