243 for cow elk?

[Zachthewack257]

Im loading up some 100 grain hornady btsp interlocks out of my 243 for my little cousin so shoot mule deer with, probably going to have a cow tag too. Anyone have any experience with a 243 on elk?

 

[35WhelenAI]

Lots of guys shoot the bare minimum legal caliber in Colorado with the right bullets for elk. A search on the Forum or internet will probably get you lots of experiences.

 

[BRTreedogs]

If a 35 Whalen will kill an elk a 243 will knock its hooves into the next county.

 

[35WhelenAI]

I wasn't questioning it. And it is the bare minimum in Colorado, by law. I wasn't just posting to hear myself talk or whistling dixie. The right bullet makes all the difference.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I’ve killed lots with multiple .243s. Get a good 8 twist barrel and shoot some heavies.

95 SSTs, 103 ELDXs, and 108 ELDMs have all been very successful on elk.

 

[Telford29]

I used a nosler 95 grain bt on my cow this year, out of a tikka 243 win. Worked fine.

 

[JMundy84]

Post in thread '6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game' https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/6mm-243-hunting-success-on-big-game.284525/post-3920160

Plenty of examples of success here

 

[35WhelenAI]

Yep, plenty examples of success on this forum and all over the internet. Again, not whistling dixie, the bare minimum in Colorado works well with the right bullets.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Yep, plenty examples of success on this forum and all over the internet. Again, not whistling dixie, the bare minimum in Colorado works well with the right bullets.

Large calibers also “work well with the right bullets”. What’s your point?

 

[35WhelenAI]

My point is the bare minimum legal caliber in Colorado works well with the right bullets, should I be more clear than that? Do you have a point, other than larger calibers work as well?

 

[BRTreedogs]

My point is the bare minimum legal caliber in Colorado works well with the right bullets, should I be more clear than that? Do you have a point, other than larger calibers work as well?

So you are saying that with all honesty using “bare minimum “ is not a jab all smaller calibers?

You just keep stating it like that for no reason?

 

[35WhelenAI]

Okay, take the word bare out of there. It's the minimum legal caliber in Colorado. The right bullet makes a good difference.

 

[kcm2]

Use a good bullet, hit the lungs and get our your knives.

Elk are not hard to kill if hit well. Hit poorly, they will run for miles. Marksmanship is important with tenacious survivors.

 

[Phaseolus]

My Wife has killed a pile of elk with her BLR .243 that She bought with her summer job money when She was in High School. She got angry with me when I suggested we could get her a more appropriate caliber. She only takes perfect shots though, very picky.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I’ve killed a few with an 85 grains Barnes TSX.

 

[Indian Summer]

You asked if anyone had experience so I’ll tell you mine. My niece shot a large Kyle with a 243 at under 100 yards. There were approximately 70 elk there. They all ran, but she just stood still. For a long time. Several minutes she began to walk the direction the herd had gone. Eventually, she bedded down. I should mention that it was a perfect broadside shot. Eventually, with the wind to our favor and some fog, we snuck to within 75 yards and she shot it in the head to finish it. That other than not running off with the rest of the herd, she acted like she was barely hit. It was 15 minutes until we finished her off. My point is you can kill a grizzly bear with a 22 if you do it right. The question is why? If there’s a chance of finding something at least a little bigger I would go for it. Do you want her to experience losing her first animal? I think not.

That’s my experience with the 243 and elk.

 

[SwiftShot]

You asked if anyone had experience so I’ll tell you mine. My niece shot a large Kyle with a 243 at under 100 yards. There were approximately 70 elk there. They all ran, but she just stood still. For a long time. Several minutes she began to walk the direction the herd had gone. Eventually, she bedded down. I should mention that it was a perfect broadside shot. Eventually, with the wind to our favor and some fog, we snuck to within 75 yards and she shot it in the head to finish it. That other than not running off with the rest of the herd, she acted like she was barely hit. It was 15 minutes until we finished her off. My point is you can kill a grizzly bear with a 22 if you do it right. The question is why? If there’s a chance of finding something at least a little bigger I would go for it. Do you want her to experience losing her first animal? I think not.

That’s my experience with the 243 and elk.

Amen, funny how those bad days dont get mentioned that much. Where I hunt heavy pressue. I usually find one wasted elk a year. The birds tend to lead the way. All those elk nobody mentions those bad days, everything is great. Sorry but some people are messing up out there and it is not all the Creedmoor guys. Sorry I could not resist the last one.