Enough Power??
 

I have been toying with the idea of a new rifle since my only nice rifle is a .243 and im unsure of its ability with elk. I think it might be able to handle it but i was wondering what some of you with more experience on this topic have to say.

RE: Enough Power??
 

I think you can kill an animal with any cartridge, it just depends on your shot placement and how close you are. But since you seem to be from Wyoming where all of the bad*** elk hunters live, and shots out to 300 yards arent uncommon, id say go with a bigger cartridge like the 7mm remington mag.

RE: Enough Power??
 

Anything from the 7mm-08 on up will do a good job on elk. Including 7mm-08, .308, .270, .280, 30-06, and any of their magnum counterparts.

If I were to buy an elk gun and considering that you already have the .243 I would probably pick one of the three WSM's or one of their long action cousins.

I wouldn't hunt elk with a .243. It's just not an overly powerful cartridge and does not cary much energy with it. It makes a great antelope and deer cartridge bit is a bit small for elk.

RE: Enough Power??
 

Any of the .300 Magnums would be a excellent choice. Good luck.

RE: Enough Power??
 

i have seen moose killed with a 243, but a moose isn't as tough as a elk IMO. I just don't think a 243 is a good choice for elk. At min, I would use a 270win, or keep my shots under 50 yards with high quality bullet from barnes, or something along those lines. I mean alot of elk hunters use a 338win mag, so you got alot of choices.

RE: Enough Power??
 

You'll do better to step up a bit, like others have said. I'd go to something in the 30's. You don't need super-highpower for elk, but if you know you'll be in long-range territory, you won't regret a magnum.

RE: Enough Power??
 

i have heard of guys hunting elk with 243's but they were pinpoint accurate and knew exactly where their bullet was going to go everytime. IMO i think you should start with a good 30 caliber and work from their. if you are gonna have short shots maybe a 30-30 longer shots anything from a 308 to a 338 win mag depending on your recoil comfort level. but speaking for myself i consider a 243 a heavy varmit gun or a light deer rifle just my opinion

RE: Enough Power??
 

If you've already got one, and you're not looking to get another rifle, then there's nothing really wrong with using a .243 on elk, it's a little under powered, but it's got oo-gobs of power over any bow! (although there's something to be said for heavy "bullets", try shooting ANY bullet through a bucket of sand, an arrow will punch clear through.)

If you're willing to buy another rifle, I'd say step up to a .308win, or .30-06, they're pretty mild in the recoil department (especially the .308), but will handle anything on our continent with ease, other than the great bears-they do pretty good on them too, it's just not going to be me telling you to use it! These two will do anything that any of the .300 mags will do in the field, they'll do it with cheaper ammo (or less powder) and with less recoil. Going to a 7mm mag steps you up in power a goodly bit, but when it comes down to it, you've still got a small bullet...getting up to a .30bore is a good thing, everyone should have at least one.

What I really recommend, if for no other reason than it is just too much fun, is a .45-70, they recoil a bit, nothing bad, but they let you know they're off to kill something, Get it in a Marlin 1895 in any platform, I've got a 1895 Guide gun and a 1895 Cowboy (literally the long and short of it), AWESOME shooters. They'd definitely be something different for you, and leverguns are just fun. the .45-70 is stout enough to handle anything that comes your way, but still cheap enough to shoot to use for coyotes or rabbits.

RE: Enough Power??
 

The .30-06 is still a very common and excellent cartridge for elk, moose, caribou, and yes, even deer and black bear.......it'll suit any hunt in North America with the possible exception of the really big bears and some think It'll do that too.

RE: Enough Power??
 

Could it work yeah, would I recommend it NO! I can't tell you how many threads have been posted on how a 270 win is not acceptable or at the very most marginal for Elk and one can certainly say the 270 is much more powerful than the likes of a 243 or 3030. Lets even give it marginal status for arguement sake, when you use a marginal caliber it requires a certain level of skill in placing the bullet(and picking the right bullet)& further more it requires limitations and the ability to stick to those limits!

Elk are one of the toughest NA game to topple. IMO moose topple as easy as wt deer, but they do offer thicker skin/bones thus the need for proper bullet construction and cartridge choice.

Please explain this comment nomercy to me as I seem to not grasp your logic?
"using a .243 on elk, it's a little under powered, but it's got oo-gobs of power over any bow!"

A comparison of a bow vs a rifle is not even logical, I am sure your aware the 2 use completely different methods to kill and therefore can not be even considered apples to apples! If you were to say a 40 lbs limb bow vs a 60lbs limb bow different, but I am sure you'd agree the response you'd get for such a suggestion for elk would not be very positive!

Since you have a 243 for deer/lopers, I would suggest looking at 3006 to diversify somewhat and offer you a better choice with less limitations for elk. If recoil is not a problem than you could also look at the mags.


I don't recommend a 243 for our canadian whitetail bucks, many other low recoilers that offer more. I certainly will not endorse a 243 for an animal that is double the weight but if you want to go right ahead.