Hello all. After several attempts, I think I have this figured out.

I am interested in asking a question about the use of a 243 Winchester on big game, but I think I can take some of the emotion out of it by doing a poll. I actually don’t know how this will come out, so I look forward to seeing the results.

As I thought about how to ask the question, I decided there would need to be some parameters around it to be fair to everyone involved.

So, which poll statement do you feel is the most correct, given the following conditions:

1)The most appropriate bullet is selected for the game involved
2)Shot distance = 100 yards
3)Angle of Shot = Quartering
4)Shot Placement = Heart/Lung Shot (no immobilization shots)

I know they do the trick on muleys just fine. It can drop them pretty easy. Thats where I drew the line, I don't know about their performance on elk in a situation like that but I figured a 7 would do more damage and put them down faster anyways.

So to answer this, you need hunters that have killed...
Southern Whitetail
Northern Whitetail
Mule Deer
Elk
Moose

With both a .243 and a 7mm Mag...

nchawkeye - YEs, that would be ideal ... experience with both calibers on all species. But I don't think that will be possible. For example, if someone had a bad or marginal experience with a 243 on an elk sized animal, I would hope they did not move up and try a moose.

So, I am more interested in what experiences people have had with these calibers. There is a bunch of hunting experience on this site and even if someone has not pulled the trigger themselves, I am sure they have collectively seen a ton of animals that were taken with these calibers.

As I've said before, you'll see more difference using different bullets within a caliber than between two calibers on deer sized game...

I once saw a deer hit with a .270 in the lungs followed quickly by a .243 through the lungs...The deer still sprinted 60-70 yards before she dropped...

It ain't the size hole it's where you put it...

I've seen and cleaned more than 2,000 deer killed with just about every caliber commonly used from 22-250 through .300 Mag...Plus shotgun slugs, roundballs, maxiballs, arrows, etc...

More deer are lost by poor shot placement and poor tracking than everything else combined...

If I was hungry and had to kill an elk and a .243 was all I had, I'd kill the elk with the .243...More than likely with a lower neck shot or a bullet to the brain...

From what I understand, and maybe I am wrong but a moose is supposed to be easier to kill than an Elk.

In KY, a caliber restriction exists on elk and bear hunting...rifle hunters must use a minimum of a .270 Winchester...(.243s are not allowed)

A deer (whitetail or mule deer) is not really hard to kill (not necessarily DRT)...and a .243 bullet through the lungs will kill as well as any other caliber...

The advantage of a 7mm (.284) bullet is in its sectional density, which tends to be "heavy" for caliber...and thus generally gives better penetration for shoulder shots or hard angle shots...

Elk/Moose are bigger and tougher, and while a .243 bullet through the lungs will equal a dead elk/moose, the problem is getting the bullet through all of the muscle and/or bone to the lungs...

I'll be the 1st to admit that I'm not qualified to answer this poll.

However I would lean towards the 7mm Rem Mag for all the animals listed because I would prefer have a little too much rather than too little.

Pick you're rifle on what we will hunt the most. If it's SC whitetails, go with the 243 if you like it. You can always buy the 7mm Mag later.

Quartering towards the shooter, or away?

I have killed Deer with .243, killed Elk with .270 and Moose with 6.5mm Swede............Depends on the shot and the shooter!