243 for Moose/Elk
- Thread starter crash60
- Start date
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
NOT a great idea! You should use at least a .270/7mm-08/.280 class of cartridge for moose and elk. If you hit the leg bone on the way in you could be in for a very long hike or lose the animal. Anyway, if all you have is a .243 then use a premium bonded bullet like the Nosler Partition, it's loaded by Federal in their ammunition line...you're already using a caliber that should only be used on deer and varmints, don't make it worse by using cheap frangible bullets too! Keep your shots to 100 yards or less, and only take shots behind the shoulder or to the front...wait for the animal to move if you don't have a good shot. Good luck!
I am a proponent of shot placement and am often accused of being under gunned. I bought a .243 for my wife since we couldn't find a 7mm-08 after she took her first deer (with an SKS). When she wanted to hunt elk, I built up a P-14 I had re-chambered to .303 Epps Improved for her. Now she has an elk and moose gun. I know many moose were shot with a .30-30 (my father has 2 to his name, his brother has 5) but I like the heavier hit of a better cartridge. However, it does not require anything greater, in my opinion, than a .308Win. My 125lb sister-in-law used one to take a moose each year in Northern ON for 7of the 10 years she lived there, and she wasn't tracking it for two days and then packing it out. They kinda died right there.
That being said, I tracked a elk for eight hours (4 after it was hit, and 4 the next morning). And this had been hit once by a 180 gn .30-06 CoreLokt, and twice by a .300WM blue box Federal 200gn. Shot placement. First round, .300WM went through the hump. Missing everything. Second round ('06), quartering away, went in behind near shoulder, missed ribs, clipped a TINY piece of lung and shrapnel from the brisket blowing up damaged the off shoulder. Third round (.300), removed hair between the antlers as the animal walked away. When we found it, my buddy took two more (.300 WM from 25') shots to kill it.
Buddy and his Dad. First time his father had ever hunted although he practiced a lot, he did not have the experience to properly judge a quartering shot. Buddy was the world's greatest shot, just ask him. He had fired exactly 3 rounds with that .300 and had no idea where the bullets were at 260yds.
Myself, I am a great fan of the plain-Jane, boring .30-06. There is nothing on this continent it can't take and no need for anything bigger than that. My deer, moose, elk meals speak for themselves.
That being said, I tracked a elk for eight hours (4 after it was hit, and 4 the next morning). And this had been hit once by a 180 gn .30-06 CoreLokt, and twice by a .300WM blue box Federal 200gn. Shot placement. First round, .300WM went through the hump. Missing everything. Second round ('06), quartering away, went in behind near shoulder, missed ribs, clipped a TINY piece of lung and shrapnel from the brisket blowing up damaged the off shoulder. Third round (.300), removed hair between the antlers as the animal walked away. When we found it, my buddy took two more (.300 WM from 25') shots to kill it.
Buddy and his Dad. First time his father had ever hunted although he practiced a lot, he did not have the experience to properly judge a quartering shot. Buddy was the world's greatest shot, just ask him. He had fired exactly 3 rounds with that .300 and had no idea where the bullets were at 260yds.
Myself, I am a great fan of the plain-Jane, boring .30-06. There is nothing on this continent it can't take and no need for anything bigger than that. My deer, moose, elk meals speak for themselves.
I Dislike these threads simply because of the Hate that gets sent toward the OP for asking a Question..
Now, We all started somewhere...Not all of us on a Forum, they wernt around back then... Some may of asked an elder fellow at a BBQ, one might of asked while out rabbit hunting with a family member.. one might have discussed with a father on the way home from school... one may of asked a Grandfather..
"So Pops, Do you rekon my .243 will take down a moose this year?"
or
"so, Bob.., when your not hunting rabbits what else do you like to hunt?" ... "Moose", Bob says.. "Oh I always wanted to hunt a moose, do you think my .243 would be capable?"
Not many of us Stood up infront of a Room full of(Ultra Experienced International) hunters , excused ourselves an asked, Is my .243 guna kill a Moose..??!?!
Cut the bloke some Slack..... Just read it an look past it if you get a bee in your bonnet over the OT, If you feel the OP has No eyed Deer then just explain, 'moose are big rada rada'
IMO, it can be done if the Calibre is in the hands of a hunterman.... and not a shooterman..
Range has got to be taken into consideration!
No potshots at a Animals on the trot!
100gr Bullet
No shoulder shots... 2 Inches behind the front leg Vertical (if it were me) + Study your quarry and know where the heart is
Hold out until you can place the shot on undisturbed animal!
If Your Freezer is Empty I would borrow the Neighbours .30 cal just to be real sure.. but if I was keen to tackle a challenge, in finding a Nice Bull Moose in my area, had a few weeks to do so, sure as scit I would grab that .243 an give it a go!
hunt the frikken thing, don't just shoot at em soon as ya see em.
my .2c
WL
Now, We all started somewhere...Not all of us on a Forum, they wernt around back then... Some may of asked an elder fellow at a BBQ, one might of asked while out rabbit hunting with a family member.. one might have discussed with a father on the way home from school... one may of asked a Grandfather..
"So Pops, Do you rekon my .243 will take down a moose this year?"
or
"so, Bob.., when your not hunting rabbits what else do you like to hunt?" ... "Moose", Bob says.. "Oh I always wanted to hunt a moose, do you think my .243 would be capable?"
Not many of us Stood up infront of a Room full of(Ultra Experienced International) hunters , excused ourselves an asked, Is my .243 guna kill a Moose..??!?!
Cut the bloke some Slack..... Just read it an look past it if you get a bee in your bonnet over the OT, If you feel the OP has No eyed Deer then just explain, 'moose are big rada rada'
IMO, it can be done if the Calibre is in the hands of a hunterman.... and not a shooterman..
Range has got to be taken into consideration!
No potshots at a Animals on the trot!
100gr Bullet
No shoulder shots... 2 Inches behind the front leg Vertical (if it were me) + Study your quarry and know where the heart is
Hold out until you can place the shot on undisturbed animal!
If Your Freezer is Empty I would borrow the Neighbours .30 cal just to be real sure.. but if I was keen to tackle a challenge, in finding a Nice Bull Moose in my area, had a few weeks to do so, sure as scit I would grab that .243 an give it a go!
hunt the frikken thing, don't just shoot at em soon as ya see em.
my .2c
WL
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
And most have no business trying it.
Some of you guys really have never used a 243 and simply think its unsuitable. Shame on you.
If my 30-30 is enough for moose or elk, the .243 is damn well enough for moose. The 100 grain rounds keep the SD at .242, has about 1250 ft-lbs at 300 yards, and is practically flat shooting until then. To me this is a 200-300 yard moose boom stick.
As a comparison, the 308 has about the same numbers other than the 150gr round would have an SD of around .225 and hit at 1400 ft-lbs at 300 yards.
I don't know on what planet the 243 becomes inadequate for moose or elk, but it looks like many people are ready to scoff at things they don't understand.
If my 30-30 is enough for moose or elk, the .243 is damn well enough for moose. The 100 grain rounds keep the SD at .242, has about 1250 ft-lbs at 300 yards, and is practically flat shooting until then. To me this is a 200-300 yard moose boom stick.
As a comparison, the 308 has about the same numbers other than the 150gr round would have an SD of around .225 and hit at 1400 ft-lbs at 300 yards.
I don't know on what planet the 243 becomes inadequate for moose or elk, but it looks like many people are ready to scoff at things they don't understand.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Hunt enough and you'll realize that numbers, abbreviations and acronyms don't really mean much out in the field.
I have seen 2 moose shot with .243 win. one was broadside at 80-100yds clean pass threw the lungs. did the old stagger step and wobble. then hit the dirt.
Other was a 60yd neck shot (nuff said)
both with 100g partitions
fact is the 243win will and has killed moose and continue to do so.
not a lot of room for error. if you stick one in the front shoulder it may not be the results you are wanting.
I am willing to bet more game are lost with poor shots from 30 cal rifles then "too small a calibre"
practice, good bullet like a TTSX or Partition and keep them in the boiler room inside 150yrds you will be eating moose for dinner
Other was a 60yd neck shot (nuff said)
both with 100g partitions
fact is the 243win will and has killed moose and continue to do so.
not a lot of room for error. if you stick one in the front shoulder it may not be the results you are wanting.
I am willing to bet more game are lost with poor shots from 30 cal rifles then "too small a calibre"
practice, good bullet like a TTSX or Partition and keep them in the boiler room inside 150yrds you will be eating moose for dinner
I would suggest to you, to change your plan and use a suitable cartridge for the job, or stay home. Now, you are going to get comments like "it's all about shot placement", don't fall for that chite and use a 243. How about getting a 308 or 30-06 or maybe a 358 and place your shots well with one of those and keep your yardage to a suitable distance, that you as the shooter can handle. It's all about humane clean one shot kills. Good luck on your moose hunt if you choose a proper cartridge for the job.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I'm willing to bet that you're wrong.
IMO elk cartridges start with the 6.5x55. That said, I am sure that the 243 with PREMIUM Bullets will certainly kill an elk, some of the factory stuff out there seems barely adequate for deer (ie the stuff that comes in blue boxes). Another point, there are elk and then there are elk, a mature bull is much larger than a cow.
If I met a guy with a 243 and premium bullets who was looking for an antlerless elk, I'd think he's going to get his elk. If I met a guy with a 243 with cheap factory ammo hunting during the 6 point season, I'd think he was a fool.
If I met a guy with a 243 and premium bullets who was looking for an antlerless elk, I'd think he's going to get his elk. If I met a guy with a 243 with cheap factory ammo hunting during the 6 point season, I'd think he was a fool.
You don't get extra points, or a special prize, or a statue built in your honor for using the smallest legal caliber. It doesn't make you a better person. What's the fascination? "Mines smaller" is just another kind of "Mines bigger".
My cousin uses a 243 Win for Michigan elk which are almost as big as moose and elk have a rep of being hard to kill.
The 243 enjoys the same case as its parent cartridge the 308 Win which will take any North American game animal with proper shot placement.
He uses Nosler accubond and partition and Swift a-frame and scirocco bullets exclusively in his hand loads and has never had a wounded animal get away.
I think the caliber and its available bullet weights are light for animals of the elk/moose size but who am I to argue with meat on the ground.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Ah, the "cousin" story........
Elk in Michigan are nothing but Rocky Mtn elk transplanted there from the west in the early 1900's. Roosevelt elk are the largest in body size, but they're not found there. I have trouble believing your cousin has shot several as they only issue a couple hundred licenses per year to tens of thousands of applicants.
