The 243 Winchester vs Buffalo

Since 1999 I've hunted northern Saskatchewan along wild bison and never had a problem. They are a nuisance to land owners when trampling or eating their crops or knocking down fences, however no incident occurred between them and human. Maybe because they are use to human activity and not wild like others in more remote areas. They are interesting to watch and listen to. My son encountered five of them at 30 yards while we were hunting deer, they paraded past him without incident. Needless the say the safety come off from his 300 Weatherby.
 
farshot said:
I agree with Ardent totally - I do not understand the concept of "is this small enough to use on a ....."
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I think it has to do with everyone trying to minimize the drop of any given caliber via high BC bullets or monometal lightweights, a lot of this thinking being spawned by long range hunting shows and bullets being marketed as "optimized for long range".

My experience over the years has been that heavy for caliber bullets kill more consistently and make blood trailing easier when the time arises, regardless of which caliber or animal they're used on. An exit wound is always preferable, regardless of the "shock and awe" sometimes exhibited by explosive bullets on a perfect shot.

A motorsports slogan applies to hunting calibers as well;" There's no replacement for displacement." :D
 
bearkilr said:
I think it has to do with everyone trying to minimize the drop of any given caliber via high BC bullets or monometal lightweights, a lot of this thinking being spawned by long range hunting shows and bullets being marketed as "optimized for long range".

My experience over the years has been that heavy for caliber bullets kill more consistently and make blood trailing easier when the time arises, regardless of which caliber or animal they're used on. An exit wound is always preferable, regardless of the "shock and awe" sometimes exhibited by explosive bullets on a perfect shot.

A motorsports slogan applies to hunting calibers as well;" There's no replacement for displacement." :D
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Isn't long-range shooting all about heavy for calibre bullets????????
 
Disagreed with the canned hunt...

BUT

How is filming it disrespectful TO THE ANIMAL? It died...instantly. Are his buffalo friends gonna log onto Facebook and be offended by the video?! Don't abuse an animal...as in don't beat it, starve it, tease/annoy it. That is all. Do NOT give the human characteristics/feelings.

If videos are distressful, so are photos...
 
Why not? said:
Yes, Sir, and yet hardly anyone ever mentions it. I know of two guys who have had charging bison drop just feet away from them. One was killed by the guy's hunting partner as he was trying to reload his 300 Mag. The other just barely managed to get the last round in his rifle off as the bison closed on him.....after absorbing three earlier hits. The bull fell literally at his toes!

It is, however, quite exhilarating! :D

Bison and trucks? C-FBMI can tell you about bison and trucks.

Ted
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Indeed, an outfitter in Northern Alberta has had more than a half dozen charges on him and his clients, they make look placid but they're not to be taken lightly and when on adrenaline little will stop them quickly. Even a semi and a 53' trailer at times it seems. :) So, I cringe anytime I read things like, "My .270 is good for anything on the continent" etc and they include Wood Bison in the statement. I like to think people just forget about Bison and truthfully even fewer have seen them, let alone hunted them. We're privileged in the North, bigger predators, much bigger game, it's a different continent game wise almost. :)
 
sheephunter said:
So how did you come to the conclusion that long-range tv shows were to blame for a buffalo getting shot in the head with a 243?
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My post was in regard to the guys wondering what the attraction was for using light for game calibers, hence the reason I quoted the post.......but you knew that anyhow, this isn't your first post on CGN or public forums. :)
 
bearkilr said:
My post was in regard to the guys wondering what the attraction was for using light for game calibers, hence the reason I quoted the post.......but you knew that anyhow, this isn't your first post on CGN or public forums. :)
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Actually I honestly don't know that. I'm still confused what it had to do with long range shooting tv shows. Certainly some of the high weight retention, lighter mono metal bullets offer up excellent penetration but due to the fact they require higher impact velocities they would be a poor choice for long range shooting. If some tv shows are claiming otherwise I can understand your beef but I sure haven't seen it. Perhaps you can enlighten us as to which one/ones? Personally I've seen some impressive results from light-weight mono metals but impact velocities need to be kept above the 2,000fps range IMHO to ensure adequate expansion.

I would, however, agree that there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding surrounding mono metals and a lot of people trying to apply out-dated theories to them.
 
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I wouldn't want to be within 75 yards of a wild one without being 3 seconds from a truck or a decent tree to climb, they are totally unpredictable and should be respected, its hard to tell what kind of mood their in. After owning these things for almost 20 years I've been run over a couple times and charged and bluffed and witnessed some impressive bull battles and it sure gives you a shot of adrenaline, much like a grizzly I assume.
As for the video, a 243 works in the head I guess, I wouldn't pop one head on. Hell a few on the farm get my 17hmr quartering away behind the ear at 30-50 yards, but I wouldn't reccommend it. My 8mm Mag with some 220gr A-frame reloads would be my choice if I had a bison hunt.
 
It may have been enough gun in that situation, that time, but it would have gone fugly, at the speed of light, if the buff had of charged with only a .243 to commit suicide with.
 
skypilot said:
It may have been enough gun in that situation, that time, but it would have gone fugly, at the speed of light, if the buff had of charged with only a .243 to commit suicide with.
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I'm thinking they were pretty safe on the other side of the fence. A very close range head shot from safety with a 243 really isn't anything to get too excited about. I've shot a couple angus bulls with smaller calibers....sorry no video though.
 
I just had to do the same with a 1200 horse, 243 worked perfectly and no exit.....................but of coarse this has nothing to do with hunting and neither did that.
sheephunter....the camera work certainly did look like they climbed through a fence shortly after the shot didn't it.
 
Well, I know of a trapper in Inuvik that used his 243 rifle to stop/kill with one shot, a barren ground grizzly in self-defence. (year 2003) But he had no choice in this matter & this is what he had in his hands at the time. But actually hunting a bison with a 6mm bore? Wow, not my choice for sure.
 
sheephunter said:
I'm thinking they were pretty safe on the other side of the fence. A very close range head shot from safety with a 243 really isn't anything to get too excited about. I've shot a couple angus bulls with smaller calibers....sorry no video though.
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Hey, me too but with a .338.
Used to raise Reg. Red Brangus.
I believe you're correct on the pasture fence. Doesn't take much guts or gun to do that.
 
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