.243 for moose?
- Thread starter huntingfish
- Start date
Moose are real tough critters and a .243 is not a good idea. The last moose I shot took three broadsides from a .358norma magnum shooting 250 grain partitions to put down and I still had to shoot her in the head to finish her off. I would say 140grain 6.5 bullets are about the smallest anyone should use and even they are little on the small side.
A .30/30 with 170 grain bullets would be a way better choice and has almost no recoil.
A .30/30 with 170 grain bullets would be a way better choice and has almost no recoil.
I agree, bought one this year for my 16 yr old daughter to use for moose and elk(http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=290738), she barely weighs 100 lb and she had no trouble with the recoil (barely any). Her moose went down with one broadside shot thru the heart. If I had known she was going to make that good of a shot I would have saved my money and let her shoot her 243 (lol). Well now I another addition to my gun safe
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You can upend a moose with a .22 long rifle but it's not the optimum choice.
Some people may laugh but the .303 British has dropped thousands of moose and has relatively low recoil owing to greater rifle weight and on the south end of a north bound moose it has it all over any small bore.
Some people may laugh but the .303 British has dropped thousands of moose and has relatively low recoil owing to greater rifle weight and on the south end of a north bound moose it has it all over any small bore.
huntingfish
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Quebec City
I think 7mm-08, and use a premium bullet like Partition, TSX, TTSX, or a good bonded bullet. I had the same situation, my nephew and I took out a 243 Finnlight and shot it at the range, I found it had a lot of noise, compared to a 7mm-08 also better bullet selection.
huntingfish
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Quebec City
Where are these armored mooses at anyways? Hope they're not in Québec...
After the moose was down, did you see where your bullets hit? Doesn't sound like you hit the cage.
fish
Don't tell that to the many thousands of people hunting moose with the 7mm magnum.
This 30 cal. logic makes no sense to me whatsoever.
Getting back to is the .243 OK for moose? I know a newfie who said he got 15 with his. Although it's not the best choice I wouldn't hesitate either. If I was within 200 yards and could place my shot into the lungs and not worry about it running off into an intolerable swampy area to die. I know someone who shot a moose way out into a floating bog full of bramble and as hard as he and others tried it could not be brought out.
Something in the 30-06 class is ideal. But many of the .26 to .28 non-magnum calibers (6.5-7mm) may still offer pretty good stopping power and at reduced recoil.
Yes.
What is with all these people saying they wouldn't use a .243 on moose.
SCENARIO: Your rifle has broken a firing pin spring. A buddy in camp brought a .243 as a spare. It is the only extra rifle in camp. Are you people saying you would quit the hunt and go home?
SCENARIO: Your rifle has broken a firing pin spring. A buddy in camp brought a .243 as a spare. It is the only extra rifle in camp. Are you people saying you would quit the hunt and go home?
Scott Bear
Regular
- Location
- Prince George
Just buy a .303 Brit for $70.
It still all comes down to practice, shot placement, and max range, we use to butcher buffalo at a friend of friends farm and we used a 223 Rem, headshots only, I never saw one get up. I like that post about broken firing pin and if I had a buddy with a 243, if he had a tag I would let him shoot it, because I would have no idea where it shoots, just a thought. If he was using my 243 that would be different story.
everett, I have killed more moose than I can remember, and seen at least that many more killed. Quite a few were with the 358 Norma Mag, as several of us up here use that cartidge.
While I have not personally killed one with a 243, I have a very good friend whose son killed a big one with his Ruger Ultralight. He was there, and told me the moose went in the freezer with a single shot through the lungs.
They are tough, in that they don't often go down on the spot without central nervous system hits. They can stay on their feet for a quite a while with even the best shots. Your experience may have been an exception, but I would expect the next one you whack with your 358 Norma to go down without any extra shots, if you just give him a bit of time......
Ted
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Instead of arguing calibers - I like foot pounds energy. If you have a ton (2000) foot pounds enery at the range you plan to shoot - go for it. Check the ballistic tables - does a 243 have 2000 f/lbs at 100 Yards?
Also - as many have said - a good lung/heart shot will stop a moose - It might stand there for a minute - or it might walk a piece - but it will fall down shortly. Shoulder hit and you will have a nice chase going - regardless of cartridge - so in my opinion - if she can shoot a 243 can do it (would not be my choice but hey - thats why they make all these different calibres)
Also - as many have said - a good lung/heart shot will stop a moose - It might stand there for a minute - or it might walk a piece - but it will fall down shortly. Shoulder hit and you will have a nice chase going - regardless of cartridge - so in my opinion - if she can shoot a 243 can do it (would not be my choice but hey - thats why they make all these different calibres)
I like to think back to depression, homestead days, that I grew up in. The bush homesteaders lived on moose and elk and shot them with whatever rifle they had. A veteran trapper told me a 25-20 was too light for moose! But, he said his first rifle was a 32-20 and he killed moose with that.
A man I knew very well told me that all during the hard times his rifle was a 351 self loading. This cartridge is currently considered as being too light for reliable use on deer. This man told me that he bought a box of 20 cartridges for his 351 and by the time the box of shells ran out, he had killed nine moose!
Just like you said Ted, it usually takes a second shot for a moose, but doesn't seem to matter what size cartridge.
A man I knew very well told me that all during the hard times his rifle was a 351 self loading. This cartridge is currently considered as being too light for reliable use on deer. This man told me that he bought a box of 20 cartridges for his 351 and by the time the box of shells ran out, he had killed nine moose!
Just like you said Ted, it usually takes a second shot for a moose, but doesn't seem to matter what size cartridge.
