243 for Moose/Elk

I was talkin to an old boy recently who was telling me about his favourite rifle. He's shot deer, elk, moose, bear, goats, wolves, and some "goddamn seals" with it.
I had never heard of the calibre before, so he dragged out a few boxes of Norma ammo he had left for it. The label on the box was 5.56xsomething or other. It's a rimmed case (30-30? .303?) necked down to .22. Round soft point bullets weighing probably about the same as 3 fort Saskatchewan hooker pubic hairs.
Just cause the Internet says it's impossible doesn't mean it really is. Although, there are certainly better choices available.
 
22 Hi-power, and there was a turn of the century Pastor who killed most of the bigger animals on this continent with a 300 or 303 savage; half as many again with a 22 Hi-power.
243 is just as sane for Moose / Elk as a 50 BMG is for WT, guys claim they are surgical enough to do it...crack on I guess. My opinion won't stop anyone that's for sure
 
Squamch said:
I was talkin to an old boy recently who was telling me about his favourite rifle. He's shot deer, elk, moose, bear, goats, wolves, and some "goddamn seals" with it.
I had never heard of the calibre before, so he dragged out a few boxes of Norma ammo he had left for it. The label on the box was 5.56xsomething or other. It's a rimmed case (30-30? .303?) necked down to .22. Round soft point bullets weighing probably about the same as 3 fort Saskatchewan hooker pubic hairs.
Just cause the Internet says it's impossible doesn't mean it really is. Although, there are certainly better choices available.
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Sounds like a .22 Savage Hi Power, also known as the 5.6x52R. It's based on the .25-35 necked down to .22 cal. It's a fair bit more powerful than .223, it launches a 70 gr bullet at over 3000 fps. While I wouldn't recommend it for anything more than coyotes/wolves, the muzzle energy is only a few hundred ft/lbs less than the 30-30, and the log range ballistics are much better.

Edit: damn, tok beat me to it.
 
Ar180shooter said:
Sounds like a .22 Savage Hi Power, also known as the 5.6x52R. It's based on the .25-35 necked down to .22 cal. It's a fair bit more powerful than .223, it launches a 70 gr bullet at over 3000 fps. While I wouldn't recommend it for anything more than coyotes/wolves, the muzzle energy is only a few hundred ft/lbs less than the 30-30, and the log range ballistics are much better.

Edit: damn, tok beat me to it.
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yeah that sounds about right. He's selling his big rifle, a 6.5x55.
 
Gunoholic said:


A coupla "iffy" second/third/fourth ... hand stories and not a single first hand account of a hunter shooting an elk or a moose with a .243 Win. I guess pics would be too much to hope for. :rolleyes:
As dad would say more bull shyt than bull shot. ;)
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I posted earlier that I hunt with a guy, Bill 86 years old, hunted with him for years .243 is all he has used deer moose elk and bear. Its all about knowing your gear and your limitations with your gear. Bill is a real hunter as well he gets his game in nice and close and... non of this I shot him at 662 yards off hand with a single round while he was on a dead run as I leapt from the truck and... I have a picture of Bill with his moose he shot this year at about 35 yards he claims that he watched the moose for about a 1/2 hour waiting for him to get closer, to him and the road he shot when he felt the moose got wind of him and was getting ready to bolt. Its just a small moose 3x3 but big enough for us to hall out, and to make Bill have that feeling again. I did try to post the pic but it seems I am not able to do that.
 
For me the round must match the game. I need to be able to send a bullet thru both shoulders and have it stop on the hide of the off shoulder or blow completely thru. This allows for angling towards shots as well as raking shots thru the ribs. Will a 243 smash thru both shoulders of a big bull moose? I've never tried it. But I don't think my 25/06 is up to the task even though I know I can easily kill a mature moose with it. I'm positive a 243 will kill a moose or elk. The question remains will it be you or the wolves and Ravens that will b eating it. Use enough bullet and enough gun. The 6 mm and 257s are out for me when hunting game bigger than deer and caribou.
I agree 6.5 is the minimum with the 7s and 30s being better.
If i were to hunt moose and elk I'd bring my 45/70 or my 458 wm but thats just me. If i hunted in more open areas a 35 Whelen or 30/06 would be my choice
 
And remember that SWAMP DONKEYS are not the animals they were when I was a kid back in the '50s when an old .303 with a c.i.l 180 gr. klingkor soft point would kill them dead after the 50-75 yard dash...... nope,the days of getting a moose with a 250 savage/.30-30,32spl, /Any of the 6.5s /7x57 mm/.303 etc. are gone!!!!!!!!!!!!! and you want to use a .243???????? heck my friend, you better get a .338 ultra mag, no better yet, a .378 weatherby .. oh,i forgot to mention,practice with whatever ammo you plan to hunt with ...uh!!! ya, bullet placement has a bit to do with it too!!!!! Seriously you can kill anything with any calibre.....there are some calibres that have proven themselves over the years to be a good choice on certain animals.........most hunters suggest a certain gun,calibre,load because it works for them,or their dad.
 
WhelanLad said:
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
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yup. Well said!
 
t-star said:
here's what VAL GIEST has to say on the matter- 338win mag, 250 grain spitzers-look up his creds on line and then make your decision-
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Val Giest has great credentials in biology and game management, but I never heard of him even pretending to be an expert in ballistics.
 
These threads are all the same....can you yes......should you no.... Why because it's not necessary! I once had a 20 some odd page argument on here weather someone could/ should shoot a moose at 400yrds with .308. I suggested a heavier/flatter shooting caliber.....well that set off the storm. Not saying you need a 358 win to kill a moose. Just make your caliber selection with ethics, legality and intelligence a priority and you do fine. My free .02 cents worth!
 
My buddy's kid anchored a beauty 6x6 bull on the spot with his 6mm, but again shot placement is key. The kid knows his rifle and load, understands shot placement, and can hit the spot he wants. I have done it as well, but I still prefer something a bit heavier.
 
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