How far to kill an elk with a .243?

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Woolecox, I spent all summer testing cartridges and long range loads for the upcoming season. Then I shot my big 6x6 336 bull with my bow at 35 yards. I understand!

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Originally Posted by Sully2

The bottom line is that a .243 IS NOT an "elk gun".....in no way shape nor form. In this case did the girl dispatch one quickly...most definitively, YES. But what if..she hadnt placed that bullet exactly where she did?? A spine shot is one thing...a PLANNED...ACHIEVED spine shot is another. What if the elk had been hit 6" lower? Not at all Impossible to have happen at said distance. The someone would have been chasing a wounded elk all over the mtns.

I agree they have have another vid with the 6.5 were the bull stumbles around they cut the camera and restart the camera after it is dead. a 243 in the wrong spot/ hit a rib may not reach the heart or a double lung shot at 700 yrds. i have shot 6mm remingtons for years and even though it is a faster round than the 243 i wouldn't use it on elk

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go big!

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Originally Posted by Broz

Just for referance Mike. I would assume your opinion is due to you have not recovered many due to complete pass throughs or you didn't dig far enough. But this might make you feel better about the 300 smk you are killing elk with.

Shot was 526 yards from my Lapua. Bullet almost exited but was on the outside of the far shoulder.

point in case a .338 from the "ultra mag" lapua didnt make completely threw an elk at roughly the same distance.......... dont use a 243!

[woolecox]

Originally Posted by Long Time Long Ranger

Woolecox, I spent all summer testing cartridges and long range loads for the upcoming season. Then I shot my big 6x6 336 bull with my bow at 35 yards. I understand!

Nice!

[Derek M.]

Now I'm curious what a 150VLD would do from my 270 on an elk.

[mnoland30]

I like your answer Woolecox, but I've seen too many young hunters buy a magnum that they can't control. Blowing off a front leg doesn't kill an elk cleanly. I shoot a lightly loaded 7mm WSM for elk, but I shoot my 7-30 Waters much better. Most hunters on this forum can probably handle some recoil, but there's a reason bench rest shooters are moving to 6 and 6.5 mm guns. Recoil adds up.

Today's copper and bonded bullets are much better than the ones we could buy when I was young. That makes a smaller caliber more effective, because of the retained weight and controlled expansion.