starting out
 

looking to start hunting with my son (11yr old) thinking of getting him a .243 and possibly a .308 for myself. I know these will bring down a avg, size deer but what about a possible elk?

RE: starting out
 

get a 30-06

RE: starting out
 

the .308 will have no problem bringing down an elk.

RE: starting out
 

308 would be alright. Its a great cartridge. You also havea largeselectionofbullets out there for ita lot of them designed for elk and similar sized game.

RE: starting out
 

The .308 is indeed a great cartridge, one of the most accurate ever developed and will take just about any animal on the continent. I bought a 6mm Remington Model 7 many years ago for my wife and my son has shot it for the last several years. It is a sweet little rifle and I've shot a few head of game with it myself. The .243 is virtually identical to the 6mm and with solidly designed bullets is deadly on deer and hogs. On big deer you may not get many exit wounds, so don't give up on a trail just because you've found little or no blood.

RE: starting out
 

I think the min caliber allowed by law on elk is 27? In that case go with the 308 and the 7-08.. Both off them are on the same cartridge just one is 30 caliber and one is 28 caliber.. The 243 (which I love) is a little light for elk.. But it to is the same cartridge as the 308 just in 24 caliber..