243 for Moose

[gerard488]

Has anyone here taken a moose with a .243 win

[handirifle]

I doubt they will admit it. I am sure it would kill one, eventually, but I wouldn't recommend it. personally.

[cerich]

grew up in moose territory. perfect shot placement from a .22 will kill a moose, however if you wound one it will return the favour....really. An "honest" 30 cal. is what most "resident" moose hunters seem to use, 30-06, .308, .303 are the most common where I grew up, visiting hunters tend to use $5K exotics of every large caliber known to man... .338 from what I hear is the latest rage.

[Stockrex]

the short answer is yes.

[canadaman30]

Within 150yds behind the shoulder with 100grain slug, get your tag out of your pocket cause you'll have a dead moose. Using a quality bullit would be wise, Nosler Partition, XP3, Bonded CoreLokt. I would not suggest hitting the shoulder with a light calibre. If you can wait enough for a brood side shot, moose is dead in short order.

[handirifle]

If the 243 were all I had and I was hungry, well I would kill a moose with one, but having never hunted one, and reading all I have about how far one can travel when hit by much bigger calibers, my shot preference would be a head shot.

I figure if I have the time to wait it out for the perfect boneless shot, then I can wait till he holds his head still enough to shoot. I would do the same on a mule deer with a 22LR, but neither would be my preferred caliber for either animal.

Personally, I cannot see my self using a 243 as a survival gun, since it would save absolutely zero weight over something much more effective, like even the 308 and ammo weight will be virtually identical as well.

I would not be roaming the woods where moose live, just carrying a 243. my reasons are just personal feelings, but if moose live there, so do their predators, and I would feel under gunned against THEM with a 243.

That's just my opinion.

[6mmBR_Shooter]

the people I do know that have hunted them go for a 7mm mag or any 30cal or higher. They may look dumb, but the males especially are tough.

[65impala]

A quality bullet with proper shot placement will indeed drop one in it's tracks. It's not the ideal round and your range should be limited to within 200 yards, but I know folks who have harvested moose here in WY with a 243. A friend took a monster 6x6 bull elk this year with a 243, one shot at almost 400 yards. I prefer big heavy bullets myself, but I've seen enough clean harvests with the smaller suff that I won't knock their ability to kill.

[langenc]

Early posted mentioned 303..

One of those Africian hunters from the early 1900's shot hundreds of elephants w/ the 303..

[Westcliffe01]

Elephants are not afraid of people. Often quite the contrary. Have you seen how close the hunters are to the elephant when they take the shot ? A bad shot at that range will of course get you quite dead (as elephant have demonstrated countless times, goring and disemboweling their victims like the trainer in the US).

[Willoughby]

people are killing moose out here with bow and arrows
I'm sure your 243 is just as deadly,........maybe more

as with any caliber from arrow to .458
SHOT PLACEMENT is the key
I hear there's an outfitter in ID who uses .243 exclusively to hunt elk with
to each his own .. I like the big .30's myself -for large game

[rattfink]

I doubt they will admit it. I am sure it would kill one, eventually, but I wouldn't recommend it. personally.

I agree with this post. Perfect shot placement and any caliber is lethal. But there are so many more calibers that seem better suited (6.5x55, 7mm08, .270, .308, 30-06, and all the magnums etc).

[JASmith]

True, a 22 rimfire can do the job under perfect conditions - historically of necessity when the hunter is extremely hungry.

Having acknowledged that, one should think of using well-constructed bullets weighing more than 130 grains. This suggests that the .243 is on the low side of marginal.

Rifles of 6.5 caliber with heavy bullets are better choices if one has or can create the option.

[jadek]

Many moons ago I went north to Canada after them. Brought my trusty old Kodiak 308. Our guide had me use his old Winchester 70 in 300 mag. instead. Said that he didn't like anything smaller for moose. Worked like a champ. 135 paces and it didn't take but 2 steps and crashed. I good 06 with GOOD hand loads would do the same I'm sure. Plan on going back up so I now own a 111 in 300 mag. That's me. It's you're $$$ for the trip so if you feel it'll work go for it.

[stangfish]

Moose have huge lungs. A double lunger will do it
.

[Armed in Utah]

I doubt they will admit it. I am sure it would kill one, eventually, but I wouldn't recommend it. personally.

+1........you need this 358 Win barrel I have..........

[VicA]

If you can kill them with a bow generating less than 100 ft lbs, a .243 will work, but like the others, I would use more gun.

Vic

[yobuck]

if there was a 25% chance the moose would kill you if you shot him with a 243 would the question ever have been asked?
is there a 25% chance of not getting the moose due to a less than ideal shot?

[shovelheadave]

Wouldnt it make sense to put a quick .308 barrel on it ? One of a dozen different 180 gr bullets would do a fine job.

[TC260]

If you can kill them with a bow generating less than 100 ft lbs, a .243 will work

Agreed that a 243 would work on a moose but can't compare guns to bows using kinetic energy. My bow will cut a hole in a deer big enough to put your hand in. Not going to get that kind of damage with a 22 short