Do you consider the .243 win to be a "stunt" round for moose/elk? Or is it enough?

Is the .243win adequate for moose/elk/black bear?

  • Yes, totally underrated round. Love the round

    Votes: 60 20.5%

  • No, too small and underpowered. Hate the round

    Votes: 60 20.5%

  • OK in a pinch, but not my favorite round

    Votes: 159 54.5%

  • Use it faithfully for all my hunting

    Votes: 4 1.4%

  • HATE THE ROUND and FIND IT USELESS

    Votes: 9 3.1%
  • Total voters
    292
S

sgt.rock

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Do you consider the .243 win to be a "stunt" round for moose/elk? Or is it enough?

I am one of those snobs that sticks to quarter bore or bigger for "big game". I think the .243 win is great for deer, but always considered it a crappy round for shooting anything bigger. Great wolf/coyote round and deer are small anyhow, but I hate the damned round for bigger animals.
What do you think?
 
I have seen plenty of moose knocked down by this round. Also 3 elk where taken this year that I know of. .243 is underrated. Shot my moose with my 6mm this year as well. But moose aren't that tough just big babies.
 
I've seen enough moose killed with a .243 and just as many wounded, only to die later, with the various magnum cartridges to confirm the cartridge can get it done with a doubt. Most folk using the 243 Win, or 6mmRem for that matter, are better shots than the magnum totters because they: 1) actually practice and 2) don't flinch because of excessive recoil! The 243/6mm shooters tend to be more ethical hunters because they wait for the perfect shot rather than take a marginal one with the misconception in mind that energy will make up for the less than ideal presentation.
 
VLT79 said:
I've seen enough moose killed with a .243 and just as many wounded, only to die later, with the various magnum cartridges to confirm the cartridge can get it done with a doubt. Most folk using the 243 Win, or 6mmRem for that matter, are better shots than the magnum totters because they: 1) actually practice and 2) don't flinch because of excessive recoil! The 243/6mm shooters tend to be more ethical hunters because they wait for the perfect shot rather than take a marginal one with the misconception in mind that energy will make up for the less than ideal presentation.
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I've seen just as many .243 shooters never practice, and the only reason they picked up shooting .243 was because it was cheap to shoot. And it didn't recoil much. That was it. None of that extra practice b.s. Cause I NEVER see people shooting one at the range, and I go there almost daily.
 
sgt.rock said:
I've seen just as many .243 shooters never practice, and the only reason they picked up shooting .243 was because it was cheap to shoot. And it didn't recoil much. That was it. None of that extra practice b.s. Cause I NEVER see people shooting one at the range, and I go there almost daily.
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Don't get too defensive...you asked for our thoughts and I told you mine...if you didn't want to hear it you shouldn't have asked it! The guys I know that use the 243/6mm are too busy shooting woodchucks, yotes, wolves, crows...to be wasting time at the range, sitting behind a bench, shooting paper! Also...if you go back and re-read what I wrote you'll notice I used the word "most" and not "all"!
 
sgt.rock said:
sorry VLT79, just finished my 5th large coffee since the nightshift started 4 hours ago. Nerves are shot by the looks of things. I'll try to keep calm and chive on.
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I work steady nights and used to drink coffee like that. Made me wig the #### out after a while lol.

I'm in the "It's marginal but if it's all I have then i'll use it." camp on this one. I'm sure it'll work if the situation you're in is favorable but it's not my first choice. Just like .223 isn't my first choice for deer. I know it'll work. People do it. I may very well do it too one day but if I have a bigger rifle with me i'll use that.
 
I feel no sympathy for your plight. Buy a teddy bear. I feel more pain for the moose that are getting shot with .243. I'm not a believer in the big magnum rounds either.
 
My .243 has put bullets clean through Caribou both thru the heart lungs on a side shot and through the front of the animal and out through the hide in it midsection past the ribs. Have shot Antelope and Elk with this round. Its speedy and has deep penetration with the proper bullet and shot placement.
 
Illegal here for moose in Newfoundland unless you can find some 100gr pills. Not big enough IMO. 25-06 in a 120gr pill is my bottom limit.

Dave
 
I said..."Use it faithfully for all my hunting", as it is pretty much all I need on Vancouver island (vs blacktail) and I love the little cartridge for its low recoil and accuracy.

Besides which I doubt I will ever get a chance to hunt Moose or Elk. That's well outside of my budget.
 
Calum said:
I said..."Use it faithfully for all my hunting", as it is pretty much all I need on Vancouver island (vs blacktail) and I love the little cartridge for its low recoil and accuracy.

Besides which I doubt I will ever get a chance to hunt Moose or Elk. That's well outside of my budget.
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Just Come on up to the NWT. Its alot closer, and you can use any of my guns that you want!!!! (although none are in .243 ;) )
 
Wouldn't be my first choice for moose or elk but i have used the 243 for many years and know what it will do. As for getting jumpy and excited because of a few cups of coffee you boys need to man up. I'll drink three cups before breakfast while pounding on the computer keys.:D
 
If I lived someplace that had a moose season that was more then 3 days and it was legal, you better believe I would use a 6mm or .243 if it was my main centerfire. I firmly believe a rifle you are familiar with and have shot often in field conditions will serve you better then a borrowed magnum.
 
www.thefreedictionary.com/adequate‎
Sufficient to satisfy a requirement or meet a need. See Synonyms at sufficient. 2. Barely satisfactory or sufficient: The skater's technique was only adequate.

The 6mm and .243 were originally developed for the hunter who wanted a round for deer/antelope and varmints. And for that purpose it is pretty good.

You could go grouse and rabbit hunting with it or shoot rats at the dump. But why would you? You could take it elk or moose or grizzly hunting but why would you?


If I had nothing else but my Rem.788 in .243 to hunt with and a moose tag in my pocket, I would go moose hunting and realize I was very much limited in the shots I would take. But if I had something a little bigger in the gun cabinet that I could shoot as well I would reach for it instead.
 
Tagged for interest. Love to hear both sides of the fence on this calibre. The haters always say you limited to a perfect shot, my opinion, hunting is making a perfect shot regardless of calibre. I've passed on many animals I probobly could have collected on with bigger calibres, I can live with that, I wait for the perfect shot regardless of gun I'm looking down.
 
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