Put it to you this way: I could put a nail in a piece of wood with anything from a tack hammer to a 16 pound sledge hammer. Personally I choose a suitable tool for the job - and that wouldn't be the 243 on moose. I just don't trust my shooting skill enough to attempt. I want everything going for me when I get out for those precious times hunting, and wounding an animal makes me sick to my stomach - I like them down and dead.
Do you consider the .243 win to be a "stunt" round for moose/elk? Or is it enough?
- Thread starter sgt.rock
- Start date
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I see your empathy for the critters that be harvested. I work the same way too, but tend to use calibers that I am most capable of placing the shot on within my "comfort zone"(With a properly dialed in rifle of course). Everyone's got their limits in this world, & all we gotta do is figure them out.
A pal of mine is an ex-Rodeo calf roper. His one and only modern rifle is a .243. I bugged him about his 'lady gun' and he told me that everything he's shot up to moose drops dead and he doesn't lick recoil.
We were having a discussion at a 'big game rifle match' at our club after the calibre floor got raised from .243 to .250 and finally to 6.5mm to eliminate the smaller bores. The guys with the .300's and .338's were resentful about being beaten by them.
My wife (a past winner on two occasions by off hand shoot offs at 200 and 300 yds) was standing there unable to compete with her .243 and shooters were asking why. One claimed he had a friend who had killed a Grizzly with a .243 as that was the rifle he had in hand when the bear showed up. They expected the organizers to allow the smaller bores as a courtesy, in their own class, but they wouldn't admit them.
In BC it is unlawful to shoot a Bison with a 45-70 as it doesn't generate enough energy at 100m, according to the government. This despite the tens of thousands of Bison that fell to it and lesser BPCR's in the era. The Metis shot them from horseback at the gallop with HBC trade guns. Custer shot them with his .44 1860 Army.
We were having a discussion at a 'big game rifle match' at our club after the calibre floor got raised from .243 to .250 and finally to 6.5mm to eliminate the smaller bores. The guys with the .300's and .338's were resentful about being beaten by them.
My wife (a past winner on two occasions by off hand shoot offs at 200 and 300 yds) was standing there unable to compete with her .243 and shooters were asking why. One claimed he had a friend who had killed a Grizzly with a .243 as that was the rifle he had in hand when the bear showed up. They expected the organizers to allow the smaller bores as a courtesy, in their own class, but they wouldn't admit them.
In BC it is unlawful to shoot a Bison with a 45-70 as it doesn't generate enough energy at 100m, according to the government. This despite the tens of thousands of Bison that fell to it and lesser BPCR's in the era. The Metis shot them from horseback at the gallop with HBC trade guns. Custer shot them with his .44 1860 Army.
I see your empathy for the critters that be harvested. I work the same way too, but tend to use calibers that I am most capable of placing the shot on within my "comfort zone"(With a properly dialed in rifle of course). Everyone's got their limits in this world, & all we gotta do is figure them out.
7mm-08 or Mauser isn't that much more either. I'll tell you that I am a 'recoil sensitive' guy after shooting a poorly fitting light rifle for a number of years. The .243 got my shooting basics re-established (no flinch now), but for moose I went out with the 7mm-08 and premium bullets. Dropped 2 moose no problem with good shots ( with manageable caliber)... I am a .243 enthusiast and shot my biggest buck with it, but when I go after moose again I'll be taking a heavy (cooper) 30-06, with the 7mm as back up. Just as when I go for deer on multiday trips it'll be the 7mm as the go-to and the .243 as back up - although I will have some conflict now when looking at the 6.5x54, that things a pussycat!
In BC it is unlawful to shoot a Bison with a 45-70 as it doesn't generate enough energy at 100m, according to the government. This despite the tens of thousands of Bison that fell to it and lesser BPCR's in the era. The Metis shot them from horseback at the gallop with HBC trade guns. Custer shot them with his .44 1860 Army.
I bet there were some wounded ones as well. When I shoot something, I want it dead... One of the things I don't like about the .243 is the small wound chamber: Less blood makes for some challenging tracking. Also, the fast moving bullets tend to create more shot meat (not your 45-70 of course, which you should be able to 'eat right up to the hole').
I bet there were some wounded ones as well. When I shoot something, I want it dead... One of the things I don't like about the .243 is the small wound chamber: Less blood makes for some challenging tracking. Also, the fast moving bullets tend to create more shot meat (not your 45-70 of course, which you should be able to 'eat right up to the hole').
I've seen 243" 100gr Nosler Partition take down a big bull elk, end result was same as if it was hit by a 300 Mag...shot placement was perfect and distance not far (15 yards through the heart). I personally feel a 6.5mm is a better minimum on bigger game, especially after seeing a nice sized bull moose hit the dirt hard this past fall to one shot from my 260 Rem/127gr Barnes LRX
careful sgt.rock some us Alberta boys might take you up on the offer to come to the NWT to hunt moose.
243 close range (12 yard) hornady interlock 90 grain blew up which resulted in little penetration and a very long day on a good mule deer buck...It was the same rifle that my mom had tipped over a few elk at 100 yard or so same bullets same grain.....if you use one they don't break bone well at close range with a standard cup and core bullet.....least that was my experience..
Undoubtedly there were some wounded animals for the same reasons we have them today - poor bullet placement and poor bullet performance.
The only two moose I've killed fell to a BP equivalent smokeless 45-70 420 gr load. Both one shot kills. Two 400lb+ black bears have fallen to my 50-70 Sharps with BP loads; a one shot kill and the other needing three rds. as I missed the heart with the first shot. Both taken at 100m. He was well hit with a lung shot but wouldn't quit moving and I wasn't willing to let him crawl away with a broken shoulder.
And yes, they were eaten right up to the bullet hole with no blood shot meat. I have a beautiful Husqvarna .270 I stopped hunting with as it destroyed too much meat. Now I know if I down load it and use 150 gr RN bullets, it's a deadly killer and doesn't destroy meat.
The only two moose I've killed fell to a BP equivalent smokeless 45-70 420 gr load. Both one shot kills. Two 400lb+ black bears have fallen to my 50-70 Sharps with BP loads; a one shot kill and the other needing three rds. as I missed the heart with the first shot. Both taken at 100m. He was well hit with a lung shot but wouldn't quit moving and I wasn't willing to let him crawl away with a broken shoulder.
And yes, they were eaten right up to the bullet hole with no blood shot meat. I have a beautiful Husqvarna .270 I stopped hunting with as it destroyed too much meat. Now I know if I down load it and use 150 gr RN bullets, it's a deadly killer and doesn't destroy meat.
I bet there were some wounded ones as well. When I shoot something, I want it dead... One of the things I don't like about the .243 is the small wound chamber: Less blood makes for some challenging tracking. Also, the fast moving bullets tend to create more shot meat (not your 45-70 of course, which you should be able to 'eat right up to the hole').
Good bullet placement...along with premium rounds,have accounted for a pile of dead moose. As a guide I prefer a caliber that my clients can comfortably manage. With todays great choices of ammo, the lil 243 is a very underated moose cartridge! Thanks
More game is lost due to poor bullet selection than to wrong cartridge selection. I don't think there are very many who would consider the .243 unsuitable for mule deer.
It would not be my choice for moose and elk, but it can certainly be done. As always, however, fact that something can be done is no argument that it should be.
migrant hunter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
Absolutely love the round, but it was never meant to be for moose/elk.
migrant hunter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I used the speer grand slam 100 gr for red stags when I lived in the UK. I still would'nt go looking for an elk or a moose with the .243.
I've no doubt it could be done, but I only have a few days to hunt each year, and I'm not going to risk turning down a shot that could have closed the deal. I know lots of people do it every year.
I've no doubt it could be done, but I only have a few days to hunt each year, and I'm not going to risk turning down a shot that could have closed the deal. I know lots of people do it every year.
You pick the cartridge that you shoot more comfortable. I've seen some hunters who shot 270 finched before the bullet escaped the muzzle. Some pulled the trigger quickly and eye closed when fired. There is no follow-through shot.
It is important to practice and feel comfortable with the gun then you will shoot more accurate.
It is important to practice and feel comfortable with the gun then you will shoot more accurate.
dgradinaru
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- British Columbia
change put your rifle and cal to 6.5x55 and it will kill anything from mice to moose. low recoil. very accurate, good choice in bullets. 95gr-160gr range.
