Originally Posted By: rodngunokay - I'll take the bait - WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU BE ELK HUNTING WITH A 243...
i killed my first elk at 12yrs old with one shot from my 243, it was the only gun i had available to borrow as my parents didnt hunt. It was a bang flop with a well placed bullet, BUT it was only 45-50 yards away. Having said that i would not do it again, as i am not comfortable with a small caliber on a big animal in the terrain i hunt. But properly placed well constructed bullets to the vitals will kill without exception, no matter a 243 or 458.
I know an old timer who has never missed an elk season, and has never not filled his tag. he uses a Remington 600 mohawk in 243 that he bought the first year it came out. This year he shot an exceptional 5pt with no troubles. i would not reccomend it to anyone only because there are a lot of people who are not marksmen and cant be trusted to put the bullet in the right place every time the trigger is pulled, but in the right hands it is a great round.