243 BULLET for cow elk?

I know people who use a .243 on elk every year as well and most are successful. I wouldn't recommend it for elk but if you are backing her up and that is what she is comfortable with then that is the best chance she has for success. Use at least a premium bullet like Barnes TSX, Swift Scirocco, or Nosler Partiton.

My recommendation is if you can afford it and I know it isn't what you wanted to hear. Look for a new/used rifle in 7mm-08 or .308, even a 6.5X55 or .260 would be a better choice than .243 Win for elk. Have the stock cut down to fit her properly there is time before elk season begins. Using 140 to 180 grain bullets will greatly increase your chances of a successful elk hunt.
 
I reload for my wifes .243 for whitetail. I use the Nosler 100 grain partition, that would be the one if you are stuck on the .243. To bad you could not move her up to a .270 or something with not much recoil. It will work but placement is key. Good luck, and have fun!
 
.243 for big stuff

An old friend of mine used to live in Alaska, He was out fishing with some Eskimo friends when they saw a cow moose, about 400 yards away. They needed some winter meat so they let my friend, the "White Boy" shoot it with his .243, He shot her and they all had a big laugh when the moose continued to act as if nothing happened, after a few minutes she fell over, dead. My friend had the last laugh.
I wouldn't shoot unless conditions were perfect but I guess a .243 will do the job.
 
I am not a fan of the .243 since shooting a small whitetail with one.The deer was standing broadside at about 20 yds. the shot was placed right in the crease of the shoulder.At the shot the deer fell down,jumped up and ran away stumbling and plowing through the snow.I was confident all I needed to do was follow up the trail and find my deer.I waited a few minutes for insurance and started to follow the track.After about 50 yds I see the deer standing about 70 yds away on it's feet looking at me.There was no safe shot since the deer was standing in such a way there were houses in the background about 1/4 mile away so I tried to move a little farther up the valley to change the shot angle in a safe direction.The deer runs away and crosses the road where upon following the trail it crossed a very deep creek and I never recovered the deer.I am not one of those people who gives up on a deer I've shot and this was VERY upsetting to lose this deer.I will NEVER shoot another animal with a light rifle for ANY reason.I shoot a 7mm mag now and have had very good results and haven't lost another animal since.I can tell you from the elk I killed this past fall that elk are VERY TOUGH animals and will absorb shots from heavy rifles very well.I would strongly suggest as others have to shoot a bigger caliber with reduced recoil loads.YOU OWE IT TO THE ELK TO KILL THEM CLEANLY AND QUICKLY.
 
Yes I agree it was bullet failure and this is my point.I was using 100 grain bullets and had a failure on a small deer.I am not bashing the .243 as being "no good" I just did not have good results and would not use it again.I would also strongly recommend a bigger caliber if someone asks my opinion.I would simply state my experience for my reasoning.
I know lots of people who swear by the .243 and I'm sure lots of animals have been killed cleanly with them.My experience was bad (for the deer) and as a hunter who realizes it's my RESPONSIBILITY to use the best caliber and bullet for the job.My opinion is the .243 is too light for elk.
 
I'll throw this in FWIW. I shot an average doe straight through the rib cage broadside with a 300 WBY Mag 150 grain factory load and the deer ran 300 yards before she stopped.I was fortunate to find her. Only a couple of drops of blood, exit wound same size as entrance and sealed back with fat. An inch either way hitting a rib on entry would have been a body slam. It happens.
 
Using a .243 for Elk?

No way would I attempt to do that. Why? Because they (Elk) are a lot bigger than a deer. A lot bigger, even the cows are bigger! As such, I personally just believe you owe it to the Elk (to use a larger caliber bullet).

Things change on hunting trips. What you can shoot at your range may be a completey different scenario than when you are in an actual hunting situation, Ex: winds, terrain, movement, etc. Things change and conditions change in the real world and you may not be able to make "the perfect shot", (and the .243 will lose its effectiveness if not a perfect shot).

Why is it null and void to shoot a larger caliber rifle? At any rate, PLEASE use a Nosler Partition bullet. They work great, (have shot them for years with zero problems).
 
ElkVitalsTarget.gif


cowelkforest.jpg


This photo shows location of chest vitals. Plan to shoot for top of heart. It takes self discipline and high ethics to pass up shots that are less than perfect.

I suggest ask around your friends and family and try to borrow a 270 for her. The 150 grain bullet is 50% heavier than .243's BEST weight yet recoil is not much more. 243 is too light for taking elk unless all conditions and angle is perfect. Murphy's Law tells me that perfect conditions will not occur for you this year.

How do you plan to get the dead animal from forest to your vehicle? You won't be dragging it.

Good hunting to you.
Jack
 
"How do you plan to get the dead animal from forest to your vehicle? You won't be dragging it."
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Now that's a good question. I'd bet lots of people on their first hunt for sizable game don't take the logistics of getting the animal back to the vehicle into consideration.
 
100 grn nosler partition or sierra game king.
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Both are good choice you'll be more limited by range and shot placement. The honest truth is there are few people who ever take a 250+ yard shot when hunting. I know some do but percentage wise.. it's pretty rare.

Knowing your gun, being a good shot and not overestimating the capability of your ammo or yourself are the important parts.

No way would I attempt to do that. Why? Because they (Elk) are a lot bigger than a deer. A lot bigger, even the cows are bigger! As such, I personally just believe you owe it to the Elk (to use a larger caliber bullet).
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This part i do agree with. While a 243 would certainly kill it you're taking a bigger risk of the animal having a slower or more painful death (or having to track the animal). I do believe Nosler Partition is about the best thing you can find for hunting large game, period. Based on penetration, energy and the amount of damage it will do you have a much better chance of having a clean instant kill with 30-06, 7MM rem mag, 300 win mag, etc.

I might seem like I'm contradicting myself here but nobody wants to have to be a Navy Seal target shooter when hunting. Selling yourself short on caliber and power can cause you to really be limited on shots.

In other news this will be my 200th post!
 
A .243 would be just fine. When I was in Zambia all I could muster up for a spur of the moment hunt was a .243. Shot a hartebeast (probably similar to a cow elk...about 350lbs and about 180 yds. Dropped in tracks), an impala (essentially a white tail) and a duiker (baby whitetail). Was using handloaded 100gr Hornady SP. Like others have said...it's all about placement.
 
The Sierra GameKing is not a bullet that I would use on an elk even in a much heavier caliber. These bullets are pretty "soft" and do not hold together well enough for deep penetration. I had a bad experience with a Game King 130 grain in my .270 on a small whitetail doe. The doe, which weighed about 60-70 pounds on the hoof, was quartering slightly towards me. I placed the bullet in the forward shoulder at about 50 yards, and watched in amazement as the deer whirled and bounded away. After a long and difficult tracking job, I located the doe 150 yards from where I shot it. Upon skinning and butchering the deer, I discovered that the bullet blew apart in the muscle of shoulder (did NOT hit any bone) and only a small fragment entered the chest cavity. I have no doubt that the .243 will work on an elk, but there are much better bullets for this purpose than the GameKing.
 
so i took the 243 out this weekend and put a box of nosler 100 through it. wow what a crappy group. this gun does NOT like them. tried 100 grn hornady interlocks and they grouped very well. dont know much about them so i will have to do some research.

my 375H&H however put 3 in an inch at 200 :-)


the gun thing is not a matter of i dont have a bigger gun for her or the recoil, as i do own a 270 winny. the problem is the stock length. and im not going to cut off my stock for a 1 time hunt. and dont feel the need to buy a 500$ gun for a 1 time deal either...it will be atleast 9 years before we can hunt elk in south dakota again!
 
InterLock bullets are the standard hunting bullet from Hornady, they are a good bullet and will probably work for you. I’d prefer the Partitions but if they don’t shoot they don’t shoot. I still think a lager caliber heavier bullet is the way to go.

If you got a .270 Win find a different stock for it and cut it down to fit her. If it is a common rifle action such as a M700, M70, Mauser 98, or a Savage 110 can be found used all the time on forums such as this an auction sites. Most can be have for pennies on the dollar compared to the price of a new stock. No one said that you personally had to buy a new rifle for your “female friend”; if she is into this hunt as much as you are then she should be willing to help with the costs.
 
1st choice: barnes (any flavor will do) and no, not because of the no lead crap either

2nd: nosler partition, proven track record in my books. much experience with it out of a .270
 
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