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How far to kill an elk with a .243?
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<blockquote data-quote="woolecox" data-source="post: 590465" data-attributes="member: 18551"><p><strong>To answer the OP's original question;</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p>Most will agree (I do) that 1500 ft/lbs of terminal energy is minimum acceptable power required to kill an elk sized animal. And 1200 ft/lbs is minimum for deer sized game. </p><p></p><p>According to my Load Base 3 program, my loaded 243 rounds with 105 VLD's carry <strong><u>1500</u></strong> ft/lbs out to <strong><u>250</u></strong> yards.</p><p></p><p>My 243 Ackley Improved rounds loaded with 105 VLD's carry <strong><u>1500</u></strong> ft/lbs out to <strong><u>430</u></strong> yards.</p><p></p><p>Both of these loads shot out of the same rifle, a Bruno Custom 243 AI with .274 neck.</p><p></p><p><strong><u>243 Win</u></strong></p><p><strong><u></u></strong>105 VLD</p><p>2978 fps = 1500 ft/lbs at 250 yards</p><p></p><p><strong><u>243 Ackley Improved</u></strong></p><p><strong><u></u></strong>105 VLD</p><p>3300 fps = 1500 ft/lbs at 430 yards</p><p></p><p>About 3 decades ago, my physics professor taught me that energy is energy and it does not matter the size of your pen..., err, ahh, barrel. The target doesn't care. I have pretty much proven this to myself (and some others) over the years by shooting at all kinds of stuff (phone books, boards, ballistic gel, animals, etc.) at ranges that varied to way out there. </p><p></p><p>Every year skilled and determined hunters "ethically" take elk and other big game animals with a bow and arrow or a muzzle loader; at the appropriate ranges. Many times because that is <u>the only tag that they could draw</u>. The key is knowing the effective range of your weapon, being able to shoot it well, and taking ethical high percentage shots. Will being in the woods with your 338 Super Mag Ultra Rocket Edge rifle increase your chances of bringing home an animal? Of course. </p><p></p><p>Will I hunt elk with my 243? Nope. I will use my 7mm Rem Mag topped with a 168 VLD moving at 3025 fps. It carries 1500 ft/lbs out to 690 yards. Which is usually further than I can ethically place a bullet in the field unless I get a chance to really "bench up". If I can draw a bow tag somewhere am I going hunting? You betcha.</p><p></p><p>Get out there and hunt.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="woolecox, post: 590465, member: 18551"] [B]To answer the OP's original question; [/B] Most will agree (I do) that 1500 ft/lbs of terminal energy is minimum acceptable power required to kill an elk sized animal. And 1200 ft/lbs is minimum for deer sized game. According to my Load Base 3 program, my loaded 243 rounds with 105 VLD's carry [B][U]1500[/U][/B] ft/lbs out to [B][U]250[/U][/B] yards. My 243 Ackley Improved rounds loaded with 105 VLD's carry [B][U]1500[/U][/B] ft/lbs out to [B][U]430[/U][/B] yards. Both of these loads shot out of the same rifle, a Bruno Custom 243 AI with .274 neck. [B][U]243 Win [/U][/B]105 VLD 2978 fps = 1500 ft/lbs at 250 yards [B][U]243 Ackley Improved [/U][/B]105 VLD 3300 fps = 1500 ft/lbs at 430 yards About 3 decades ago, my physics professor taught me that energy is energy and it does not matter the size of your pen..., err, ahh, barrel. The target doesn't care. I have pretty much proven this to myself (and some others) over the years by shooting at all kinds of stuff (phone books, boards, ballistic gel, animals, etc.) at ranges that varied to way out there. Every year skilled and determined hunters "ethically" take elk and other big game animals with a bow and arrow or a muzzle loader; at the appropriate ranges. Many times because that is [U]the only tag that they could draw[/U]. The key is knowing the effective range of your weapon, being able to shoot it well, and taking ethical high percentage shots. Will being in the woods with your 338 Super Mag Ultra Rocket Edge rifle increase your chances of bringing home an animal? Of course. Will I hunt elk with my 243? Nope. I will use my 7mm Rem Mag topped with a 168 VLD moving at 3025 fps. It carries 1500 ft/lbs out to 690 yards. Which is usually further than I can ethically place a bullet in the field unless I get a chance to really "bench up". If I can draw a bow tag somewhere am I going hunting? You betcha. Get out there and hunt. [/QUOTE]
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How far to kill an elk with a .243?
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