.243 for moose hunt ?

I don't think it would be fair to the animal to shoot it with a 243
get something with a little more horsepower so if you are a little off it can make up for it by doing some damage
 
Sierra1500 said:
here its legal to hunt moose with a .243 cal .... do you think its too much small or it depends on the place you hunt... where my set up is.. the farest shot i can make is about 600 feet is it good enough to make it .. i have a deal on a .243 target very nice rifle.. what you guys think?
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Don't do it! There is a huge chance that you will have to track your moose for hours if not days. If the bullet hits the bone... you may never see the animal but just hurt it bad.

Go to Exchange forum and get yourself a Mosin Nagant rifle, they're around $200 (if money issues present). It chambered for 7.62x54 round and hunting loads go between 150 grain to 203 grain (180 is most common). Much bigger hole, heavier load and bullet would do the job.
 
It is legal, but I feel that the 243 is the choice for an expert. Unless you are confident of being able to call every shot that you make with it, I think that you should use something more forgiving.
 
I cannot recommend the 243 to a rookie either, but I have shot a couple of the big cervids with the 6mm Remington, which is very similar in power. I used 100 Partitions in both cases, and one passed through the lungs and out the other side. The other was a bit of a quartering away shot, and the bullet was recovered under the hide on the opposite side. So much for ½ way through!! As other posters have noted, the 243 is a marginal chambering for moose, and would require excellent shot placement, avoiding big bones, since penetration would probably be limited if one were hit. Using a properly constructed bullet and in the hands of a very good shot, who had the self-control to wait or even pass on the shot if it was not ideal, it will do the job.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
I'd spend $75 and get an opensighted sporterized 303 and a box of shells from walmart,sometimes the 303 comes with a box of shells-your moose outfit for $100.and you're good to go........
 
there is no big difference between the .303 and the .243 energy, the .303 is higher at the muzzle but at 200 yards its quite the same...
 
Republic of Alberta said:
Having a rifle that will group 1/2 inch at 100 yards wont help you out if you choose a bullet that won't go half way through.


But if you must use this gun be sure to use at least 100g bullets and you should really use *write this down* a Nosler Partition or Triple Shock (TSX) as Killzone suggested.


I know a guy that "lost" (as he puts it) moose, elk and/or deer every year, he uses a 243 with light weight bullets (less than 90g) meant for varmints. He just won't listen. Don't be that guy.
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Here I editited this post to be clear on what I ment because it sounded retarded.
 
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.243 for moose

Natives in Alaska use .223's for moose,does that mean it's a suitable moose calibre?I watched a guy lose a bull this year after whacking it twice with a .280 and 140 grain loads.Does that mean a .280 won't kill moose?Of couse not!Out of respect for the animals I hunt I use a calibre that offers me maximum penetration should the animal turn or offer an other than perfect broadside shot.I would not suggest that I know better than anyone on calibre selection.I know I'm comfortable with the calibres I shoot and I have never lost an animal.That's good enough for me. Mur
 
Sierra1500 said:
there is no big difference between the .303 and the .243 energy, the .303 is higher at the muzzle but at 200 yards its quite the same...
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Ft/Lbs of energy is a poor way to compare two different cartridges, especialy with a big gap in between like the .243 Win and the .303 Brit.
 
with a premium bullet and moderate range, with good shot placement, the 243 will kill moose. Personally I would feel much more comfortable with a 140-160 grain bullet in 6.5mm as a minimum for moose
 
BIGREDD said:
243 is a great varmint caliber...
As for Moose I will have to quote a CGN GREAT "In the hands of an expert marksman a well placed and well constructed bullet from a marginal caliber will kill a moose"
I don't believe you are an expert marksman or you would not even be asking the question.
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LOL, but I agree anyways. ;)

Get a 303, 308, 30/06 and be done with it. Much ammo everywhere and much more suited for the task.


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this is basically the exact same discussion as 'should i use .223 for deer' except the cartridge is even more proportionately underpowered.
a .243 will kill a moose with perfect shot placement, but why not take something more powerful that is designed for the job and will help ensure a clean kill?

a .243 is an excellent deer rifle - perhaps the best deer caliber - but far from an 'all round calibre'.
 
Just as it was said over and over, I have no doubt that a 243 would work loaded with a 100 grain Nosler parts or a barnes X bullet, With a well placed shot, at 200 yards you will get your moose. I have seen the biggest of deer flattened with them out of our camp, and heard many storries of guys effectively taking moose with them, but if i had a different choice i would take a cartridge that offers a heavier bullet.
I would use one if i had no other firearm, but i would also pay alot more attention to the bullet construction. If you take the animals ability to breath away he will die, if you take his blood supply away he dies, its that simple.
Getting the bullet to where it needs to be is the key element. A braod side shot at 50 yards no big deal you will drop his lungs ou tthe other side with a 243, but a 200 yard 1/4 to you i would hesitate.
I seen this first hand on a moose at 100 yards, it was a stand off, and as i squeezed the tripple schock 180 bullet did penatrate the brisket, and did its job from a 30-378 but it also changed direction a bit when it entered.

Yes I would use a 243 but i guess all things being said, i would be asking for a perfect shot and good bullet construction.
 
I have a 6mm Remington...it is DYNAMITE Deer rifle, but I would never consider it adequate for Moose.

The 6mm Remington is more poweful that .243.

Not sure if your a "one-rifle" does it all guy?

A perfect all around rifle chambering is a 280 Remington.

Fast, flat shooting, reasonable recoil , great selection of bullets(7mm) and capable of taking most game animals in North America out to 300 yards.
 
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