I also have a pre 64 .243 excellent rifle with 100 g bullet is awesome

Butchering farm animals is a little different than hunting. Although what you say about shot placement is true. I could kill a mouse with a fly swatter but I prefer the right tool for the right job.

No way, .243's way too small for elk. The last elk I shot with a .375 H&H was dead on his feet, but still managed to run about 100 yards. Saving up now for a Barrett M82. Hope that's enough. Just wish they'd drop where I hit them like the first two elk I ever took. Wait, I took those when I was in college and had only had just two rifles to choose from, a .22 LR and a ... .243. Maybe this plan needs some re-thinking?

Elk? Yes, really.

Never said it couldn't do the job. But IMHO there are much better choices available. If using a .243 to shoot elk is your thing have at it. If I have the opportunity to ever hunt elk I won't go wondering if I brought enough gun.

And nor will I. The .243's certainly not the perfect choice for elk. But the amount of grief given it over deer-sized game is completely undeserved.

Whatever floats your boat though. I just hope you're not waiting for the opportunity to hunt elk because you don't feel you have enough gun today, or because you don't have enough saved up for a guide. Some of us don't use those, either.

An elk hunt is my dream hunt. I'm a PA boy and don't know the first thing about elk hunting, I say that unashamed. Money is most definatley the biggest factor holding me back. My hardest decision to make if I ever have the chance to elk hunt is to take either my 7 rem mag or the 300 winny. Anyway,back on track, I wouldn't think twice using a 243 on a deer, in fact I'm getting one for my 8 year old boy for his first deer hunt this year. But as you said it's certainly not the perfect choice for elk.

If I ever get to elk hunt it will be with my .54 caliber flintlock and a patched round ball...

Probably one of the most popular rounds for a bolt action deer rifle. I am a 30 cal. fan, but I know scads of folks that use the 243 Win., including my daughter. I would suggest using a quality hunting bullet in the 100 gr. weight range. And if you are buying factory ammo be careful not to buy a cartridge intended for varmint hunting. These usually use a lighter weight bullet ( 50-75 gr. +/-) that is designed to expand rapidly. Not what you want for deer sized game.

I've hunted all over the US,,and Canada,,while I don't have a 243 I know several hunters who have,,and I know of 2 guides in Canada that carry a 243,,and have killed Elk and Moose with them,,I also know of guys who shoot 300 win mags that wound deer every year,,the key point is bullet placement,,if you can't shoot,,you can't kill deer consistantly,,and I've gotten over 300 in my life using anything from a 17 HMR to a 300 mag,,which I had taken on a Canadian hunt where I could have shot a moose too, 2 of my fav calibers are the 7mm08 and the 280 Rem. But as I said,,I know of several folks who use a 243 that are deerslayers,,in NC you can harvest as many deer as you want,,all you have to get is extra tags from the state,,and we have almost 4 mths of hunting if you include bow season,,good luck this year everyone,,

I am sure that many more deer will continue taking dirt naps from the .243!! As mention'd before stick with the 95gr or 100gr bullets and not the "varmit" lods and one should be good.:deer:

I reckon being shot by a .243 would hurt.

I am actually considering a .243 for myself at this point for shooting coyotes and the occasional deer for around the house. Seeing what my sons 243 did on a small whitetail this fall made me a believer. The deer was just as dead as if it had been shot with a 50 BMG lol.

A friend of mine has nothing but good things to say about the 243

every deer i shot with the 243 i had to go looking for , the only exception was the one shot in the head . yes the 243 will kill them ,so will a good pellet gun.
the 708 is way better even my 730 waters puts them down better than the 243 did