.243 for moose?
- Thread starter huntingfish
- Start date
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
270, 6.5x55, 303. 30-30
There are better options out there that don't recoil so hard as a .308, or 30-06.
Single shot is a big no-no in my opinion for moose in general. If the moose goes down and keeps kickin or tries to get up (good chance it will with a 243) you are gonna want a second shot. Especially if you are anywhere near a swamp/marsh. I have heard to many stories of moose boltin for the swamp when they get hit. Good luck draggin 1000 pounds outta a swamp.
There are better options out there that don't recoil so hard as a .308, or 30-06.
Single shot is a big no-no in my opinion for moose in general. If the moose goes down and keeps kickin or tries to get up (good chance it will with a 243) you are gonna want a second shot. Especially if you are anywhere near a swamp/marsh. I have heard to many stories of moose boltin for the swamp when they get hit. Good luck draggin 1000 pounds outta a swamp.
Possible, yes. Not advisable tho. The 100 grn Partition is a pretty deadly bullet, but why not use something more adequate. Try a 375 H&H, a 378 wby or a 416 Rigby. Just tell her to snug it up to her shoulder properly................
Oh alright, more seriously, I'd say minimum a 257 wby with 120 grn Gameking or Partition. A 243 can work and so can a 22-250, but I've spent alot of hours and quite a few miles tracking WT deer that some genuis shot with a 22-250 since it's all about shot placement. And a WT is alot smaller than a moose, bit tougher, but nonetheless.
The 257 has a very favorable recoil to performance ratio, it puts alot of energy on target fast and doesn't hammer your shoulder too badly.
JT.
Oh alright, more seriously, I'd say minimum a 257 wby with 120 grn Gameking or Partition. A 243 can work and so can a 22-250, but I've spent alot of hours and quite a few miles tracking WT deer that some genuis shot with a 22-250 since it's all about shot placement. And a WT is alot smaller than a moose, bit tougher, but nonetheless.
The 257 has a very favorable recoil to performance ratio, it puts alot of energy on target fast and doesn't hammer your shoulder too badly.
JT.
John Spartan
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Just a little more to the right...
One more thing: why not let the girlfriend choose what chambering and gun for moose hunting after she does some homework on the subject? End result is one happy girlfriend who has a gun she has confidence in.
Actualy three straight through the boiler room and it was in BC but a moose is a moose ours are a bit bigger but they die the same. A .243 for moose/elk or grizzly is just plain dumb. People will tell you about that moose that they killed with a .243 but the don't mention the ones that got away with a dinky little bullet in it guts.
<snip>
"People will tell you about that moose that they killed with a .243 but the don't mention the ones that got away with a dinky little bullet in it guts."
Hint: Don't shoot moose in the guts regardless of cartridge used.
jaywill wrote: "summarize thread -243 capable but not ideal."
I agree. Good night.
"People will tell you about that moose that they killed with a .243 but the don't mention the ones that got away with a dinky little bullet in it guts."
Hint: Don't shoot moose in the guts regardless of cartridge used.
jaywill wrote: "summarize thread -243 capable but not ideal."
I agree. Good night.
Hi, you have heard all diffent opions here and you have to make your own choice. However I grew up hunting in northwestern ontario hunting moose and have heard a lot of bad stories of people using rifles that did not have enough hitting power. My buddy was also looking for a back up and rifle for the wife. He bought a TC Prohunter in 7mm -08 which is not much differnt than the 308, and it was nice to shoot when I shot it. His wife was an artist with it. easy to handle and recoil wasn't bad at all. All said to be fair to the animal a hunter should use at least 150gr bullet for moose. Good luck with this.
quackquackbang
CGN Regular
- Location
- Newfoundland
LOL.... shooting a animal in the guts with a 243 or a 300 win mag isnt gonna make a difference! but there are better cartridges to choose from with mild recoil that im sure she could handle!
I've shot two moose with a 6mm Rem
Do I recommend it ?
No
Shot placement with any caliber is number 1
Both were well under 100 yards
I wished I had my 7mm Rem with me instead
Even with the short range I would rather have used it instead
I was able to drop both in their tracks with the 6mm
Do I recommend it ?
No
Shot placement with any caliber is number 1
Both were well under 100 yards
I wished I had my 7mm Rem with me instead
Even with the short range I would rather have used it instead
I was able to drop both in their tracks with the 6mm
My grandfather shot 2 moose each year for over 50 years with a Winchester 94 rifle in 30-30. Only one required a second shot. He shot them in the neck.
One moose got canned as family food and the other was given to the orphanage.
Of course, in the 20's the moose had not yet developed their immunity to 30 cal bullets....
This was in northern BC. Moose there are large. He was usually fairly close and I guess he was a good shot.
I am less fussed about using a 243 than I am about letting an inexperienced shooter take a shot at a moose. If she (or your son) goes in the woods with a rifle, she should have lots of practice from the sitting and standing position. The intial practice could and should be with a 22 rifle of a similar action type.
One moose got canned as family food and the other was given to the orphanage.
Of course, in the 20's the moose had not yet developed their immunity to 30 cal bullets....
This was in northern BC. Moose there are large. He was usually fairly close and I guess he was a good shot.
I am less fussed about using a 243 than I am about letting an inexperienced shooter take a shot at a moose. If she (or your son) goes in the woods with a rifle, she should have lots of practice from the sitting and standing position. The intial practice could and should be with a 22 rifle of a similar action type.
Not my first or second choice, but a moose with a .243 size hole through its heart or lungs is going down. This isn't jurassic park. My father in law has shot dozens of moose with a .243. Nary a second shot needed. Shots chosen wisely. No meat wasted. I personally prefer my .338 RUM; but my moose is rarely deader than his.
