.243 Savage Elk

[SouthernEngineer]

I bought my wife a Savage 7mm-08 package deal a few years back and it has become my favorite rifle. It is very accurate, shoots flat and little to no recoil. She has harvested several deer with it and none have ever taken a step shooting a 139gr Hornady SST. It is a perfect caliber to buy for a youth and have them growth with it.

 

[Catahoula12]

I appreciate all of the input! I'm also considering trading the .243 out for a 7mm08

My spouse has been shooting a 7mm-08 for a couple years now and loves it. Hunting round has been a 140g Accubond that I hand load.

 

[Tim McCoy]

I appreciate all of the input! I'm also considering trading the .243 out for a 7mm08

There are some low recoil options for the 7/08. I started my nephew on them, worked well on elk, but we kept it to 200 yards or less. Was the Rem version, not sure if it is still offered. But it's an option to get a kid started if recoil is a concern 243 vs 7/08. The .284 pill does offer significant advantages over a smaller .243 in many hunting applications.

 

[nv-hunter]

All my kids hunted with a .308 ruger over my .243 because it was smaller and lighter the the .243 I have. It just fit them better and I put a top quality recoil pad on it. I hunt with it quite a bit because of the weight and size makes it easy to handle.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I have never shot anything with a 243 but I have killed six bulls with 44 magnum revolvers. The 44 has about half of the muzzle energy of the 243. Most elk aren?t going to go far with a broadside shot through the lungs. I wouldn?t hesitate to use a 243 with Nosler Partitions or Barnes TSXs on elk, but, like with the revolver, I would have to pick my shots and be willing to pass on a shot opportunity that wasn?t what I thought it needed to be.

 

[6mm Remington]

I've used the 100 gr. Partition in my 6mm Remington to take a spike bull at 30 yards and my son used his 6mm Remington with a 90 gr. Nosler E-tip to take his first elk which was a huge cow at about 350 yards. One shot and she went 20 yards and tipped over.

Both are great bullets and the 90 gr. Accubond could be added to that list. I really like the Accubond also.