Elk at 688 yards with a 243

[freefall]

I have no idea what you are talking about?!

Ah, so sorry. Somebody else used the hate word. I lack the patience to go back and see who it was.
At any rate, I'm tired of this dead horse. All you "experts" who like to shoot living creatures at 1000 yds, have at it.

 

[rookhawk]

A few different complaints in the thread. To summarize:

-The shot is too far (I agree, just get closer, that applies if it was a 22PRC or a 50BMG)

-.243 is too weak. I don't agree, all things being equal, those 6mm bullets, the heavy 105gr ELD-X bullets will certainly penetrate.

-There wasn't sufficient energy at those distances. Again, I prefer closer shots, but I'm not convinced the lethality of the 243win with a 105gr at 600 yards is that different than a 7x57 or a 6.5CM. I lump them all together thinking it should have been a closer shot as others have suggested, but energy vs penetration is a tricky thing. I'd take less energy and a better bullet with a higher BC any day. (e.g. I'd prefer her 243 setup to a 7x57 with a 175gr on a perfect broadside where there is insufficient energy for either)

 

[Forrest Halley]

A few different complaints in the thread. To summarize:

-The shot is too far (I agree, just get closer, that applies if it was a 22PRC or a 50BMG)

-.243 is too weak. I don't agree, all things being equal, those 6mm bullets, the heavy 105gr ELD-X bullets will certainly penetrate.

-There wasn't sufficient energy at those distances. Again, I prefer closer shots, but I'm not convinced the lethality of the 243win with a 105gr at 600 yards is that different than a 7x57 or a 6.5CM. I lump them all together thinking it should have been a closer shot as others have suggested, but energy vs penetration is a tricky thing. I'd take less energy and a better bullet with a higher BC any day. (e.g. I'd prefer her 243 setup to a 7x57 with a 175gr on a perfect broadside where there is insufficient energy for either)

I think it was a poor choice to use a .243 for this shot.
That isn't a 600 yard shot. It's a 700 yard shot with a 12 pace rebate.
The bullet is doing ≈1900fps with ≈830 ft-lbs at 690 yards. Is that something you would shoot an elk with offhand at 200 yards? I'd like a bit more energy just in case...

 

[Inline6]

I think it was a poor choice to use a .243 for this shot.
That isn't a 600 yard shot. It's a 700 yard shot with a 12 pace rebate.
The bullet is doing ≈1900fps with ≈830 ft-lbs at 690 yards. Is that something you would shoot an elk with offhand at 200 yards? I'd like a bit more energy just in case...

I'm not sure what numbers you are running. I'm not saying anyone would want to take a shot at an elk with 830ftlbs. What I will say, no matter the numbers crunched, or our feelings on the subject. The fact is, it was a one shot kill and that elk dropped in her tracks. Nothing can take that away. That is a fact, it is on camera we all got to see it. The rest of what we think are opinions.

 

[Forrest Halley]

I'm not sure what numbers you are running. I'm not saying anyone would want to take a shot at an elk with 830ftlbs. What I will say, no matter the numbers crunched, or our feelings on the subject. The fact is, it was a one shot kill and that elk dropped in her tracks. Nothing can take that away. That is a fact, it is on camera we all got to see it. The rest of what we think are opinions.

That's the muzzle energy calculation at 5,000 ft elevation 30°F and assuming 3050 fps MV on a 103 grain ELD-X bullet with a .512 G1 BC. Did I make a mistake somewhere? Other than 103 vs. 105 grains?
Fact is it wasn't a responsible shot with the set up. Fact is she got away with it.
Yay for the PRS and the consequences of "Miss! Reengage!" Good for her making the shot. We'd never have seen the video if she screwed up. Have a great day.

 

[Inline6]

That's the muzzle energy calculation at 5,000 ft elevation 30°F and assuming 3050 fps MV on a 103 grain ELD-X bullet with a .512 G1 BC. Did I make a mistake somewhere? Other than 103 vs. 105 grains?
Fact is it wasn't a responsible shot with the set up. Fact is she got away with it.
Yay for the PRS and the consequences of "Miss! Reengage!" Good for her making the shot. We'd never have seen the video if she screwed up. Have a great day.

They were using a Berger 105 VLD which is a G1 of .545. My guess is that bullet was going over 3150fps.

 

[Rickmt]

Very common here in Montana. While I respect the skill it takes to shoot long ranges, I don’t like the increased possibility of wounding.
The highly technological world we live in is leading all of us down a dark path in many ways.
Get closer !

 

[SFRanger7GP]

It was a self promoting stunt. No respect for hunting or the animal.

 

[steve white]

A few different complaints in the thread. To summarize:

-The shot is too far (I agree, just get closer, that applies if it was a 22PRC or a 50BMG)

-.243 is too weak. I don't agree, all things being equal, those 6mm bullets, the heavy 105gr ELD-X bullets will certainly penetrate.

-There wasn't sufficient energy at those distances. Again, I prefer closer shots, but I'm not convinced the lethality of the 243win with a 105gr at 600 yards is that different than a 7x57 or a 6.5CM. I lump them all together thinking it should have been a closer shot as others have suggested, but energy vs penetration is a tricky thing. I'd take less energy and a better bullet with a higher BC any day. (e.g. I'd prefer her 243 setup to a 7x57 with a 175gr on a perfect broadside where there is insufficient energy for either)

Agree, but let me take it one step further, and this is not just to get a rise out of Bob Nelson 35 Whelen--I don't think the 243 should be used on elk AT ANY RANGE. It is marginal for elk at the get-go.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Agree, but let me take it one step further, and this is not just to get a rise out of Bob Nelson 35 Whelen--I don't think the 243 should be used on elk AT ANY RANGE. It is marginal for elk at the get-go.

@steve white
With the CORRECT BULLETS the 243 may be ok for medium game but for anything bigger than a fallow deer go for a bigger calibre.
It is DEFINITELY NOT a calibre I would use on even our sambar. In Australia we have a legal minimum of 270 for them. Even with a 270 I wouldn't be shooting big game at 600 yards.
In actual fact I wouldn't be shooting anything but paper at that range. 400 if I have no options but even then unless it was the ideal shot I would think twice about it. I have respect for the game I hunt.
Bob

 

[Flbt]

@steve white
With the CORRECT BULLETS the 243 may be ok for medium game but for anything bigger than a fallow deer go for a bigger calibre.
It is DEFINITELY NOT a calibre I would use on even our sambar. In Australia we have a legal minimum of 270 for them. Even with a 270 I wouldn't be shooting big game at 600 yards.
In actual fact I wouldn't be shooting anything but paper at that range. 400 if I have no options but even then unless it was the ideal shot I would think twice about it. I have respect for the game I hunt.
Bob

I like my 6mm Remington it’s ok for everything in fl. ( bear might push it but there not game now)
But even with our little deer 300 yds is the limit it under 1000 ft lbs according to the charts and it’s has more than the 243.
I don’t think I would want to use it on elk at any range. But I definitely would want the max range at about 150yds and I would want a well built tough bullet.

I would not push that range on a elk with my 257w or 338 wm

 

[Flbt]

@steve white
With the CORRECT BULLETS the 243 may be ok for medium game but for anything bigger than a fallow deer go for a bigger calibre.
It is DEFINITELY NOT a calibre I would use on even our sambar. In Australia we have a legal minimum of 270 for them. Even with a 270 I wouldn't be shooting big game at 600 yards.
In actual fact I wouldn't be shooting anything but paper at that range. 400 if I have no options but even then unless it was the ideal shot I would think twice about it. I have respect for the game I hunt.
Bob

With your min of a 270 would something like a 44 mag or black powder be legal there?
Just curious is power or bullet size or both?

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I’ve taken my .243 on 3 separate safaris and killed a lot of plains game with it. These are first hand hunting experiences documented in my reports with pictures. Not charts, graphs, or speculation. I’ve killed countless North American Species with it too. Done with accurate and well placed shots with no intent to sensationalize or “stunt”. Just hunting with a rifle that I know how to shoot and with reasonable expectations. I’ve never had an animal run off injured or not recovered in short order. Actually minutes, not hours or the next day…

Big Roan is 700 lbs. Elk is 700 to 1000 pounds. I have not killed an Elk with a .243, but have killed plenty of Elk and know that an accurate well placed shot is critical with what ever Caliber you use. I’ve used several different calibers on Elk…

.243 @ 380 Yards

.243 @ 380 plus yards

.243 Lechwe

.243 Golden Wildebeest

.243 Roan

 

[Muledeerchaser]

You have to be an absolute ass to take that shot!

 

[BryceM]

Y’all know this is a resurrected zombie thread…..

 

[Flbt]

Y’all know this is a resurrected zombie thread…..

Yes but someone I guess wanted to talk about it again

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

With your min of a 270 would something like a 44 mag or black powder be legal there?
Just curious is power or bullet size or both?

@Flbt
No the 44 isn't legal but black powder is but can't tell you the min cal
Cartridge case length minimum 2".
Bob

 

[Badboymelvin]

@Flbt
No the 44 isn't legal but black powder is but can't tell you the min cal
Cartridge case length minimum 2".
Bob

Hi Bob,
The .44 is legal - they abolished the min case length some time ago when the WSM's hit the market...
My hunting mate (although I don't agree) uses a .357 on deer - including Sambar.

Russ

 

[grand veneur]

You can kill larger game with many different smaller cartridges, as long as the bullet is well placed and penetrates deeply enough, but it always remains very risky. Mistakes by the use of combined rifles are reported where bigger red deers would be accidentally killed with the 22 Magnum. But using in all cases small-caliber cartridges to shoot larger game and claiming it always works well is very questionable. I am very suspicious of such claims. If you exclude the dreamers, there are only two possibilities: the people have not shot much game with their cartridge and evermore have had luck so far, or they are lying.

 

[DieJager]

Legal? Ethical?