Elk at 688 yards with a 243

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

How about 25-35yds from your knees? I've shot two trotting cow elk on different hunts that surprised me from that position with my Browning .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM. Anyone can make that shot, but the impressive part is I didn't have to chase any wounded elk. LOL

@CoElkHunter
It was 25 to 35 yards because you were stuffed after carrying that fire breathing magnum and you were on your knees because you could go any further and after the shot praising the lord for thatshot because you couldn't go any further.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Well, if it was a Creedmoor......? Just saying. LOL

@CoElkHunter
Some of those Creedmoore shooters wouldn't take that shot because it was to close. Has to be at least 1,000 yards for them.
Bob

 

[MS 9x56]

Getting as close as you can is fine if you can. But at times, the closer that you get the less you can see.

You have your scope cranked too high.

 

[Inline6]

@Inline6
That bullet weight in a 243 AIN'T going to be started anywhere near 3,150fps. I have personally chronoed 243s with factory and hand loads. My best handloads could only get a 100gn to 2,800fps out of any 243 I loaded for. Factory loads were similar or less. These had 22 inch barrels. Even a 30 inch barrel wouldn't account for the extra 300 plus fps.
I wouldn't even attempt that shot with my 25 with a 100gn started at 3,600 fps. But that's me
Bob
Just my 2 cents.

Promise with H4350 it is not a problem. My 6CM which has less case capacity, was running at 3280. I have had several 243 I could push to 3310. I was going to try a 243AI, it was just not worth it to me. I was burning barrel out before they hit 1k. My 6XC which is even less capacity I'm running 115 dtacs at 3050. These are all 24"-25" pipes.

 

[MS 9x56]

Promise with H4350 it is not a problem. My 6CM which has less case capacity, was running at 3280. I have had several 243 I could push to 3310. I was going to try a 243AI, it was just not worth it to me. I was burning barrel out before they hit 1k. My 6XC which is even less capacity I'm running 115 dtacs at 3050. These are all 24"-25" pipes.

I can't even imagine the pressures that load would be generating.

 

[Inline6]

I can't even imagine the pressures that load would be generating.

It was a fast barrel, I had no pressure signs. Have had slow barrels too, they are not as much fun. 3200 out of a 6CM with a 105 is pretty easy.

 

[JimP]

You have your scope cranked too high.

I was hunting with a open sighted muzzle loader

 

[MS 9x56]

I was hunting with a open sighted muzzle loader

True story I shot a deer so close with my muzzleloader it singed the hair around the entrance wound and I found the plastic sabot inside the heart. Range 24". Truth I was napping at base of tree under my tree stand when deer walked up and was sniffing me when I woke up.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Promise with H4350 it is not a problem. My 6CM which has less case capacity, was running at 3280. I have had several 243 I could push to 3310. I was going to try a 243AI, it was just not worth it to me. I was burning barrel out before they hit 1k. My 6XC which is even less capacity I'm running 115 dtacs at 3050. These are all 24"-25" pipes.

@Inline6
I've tried H4350/2209, H4831SC/2213,Reloader 22 and win 760 and couldn't get anywhere near those velocities before I ran into pressure problems of very flat primers.
Even the humble 87gn V Max was getting just over 3,000fps with MAX loads of H4350 and win 760
Bob

 

[Inline6]

@Inline6
I've tried H4350/2209, H4831SC/2213,Reloader 22 and win 760 and couldn't get anywhere near those velocities before I ran into pressure problems of very flat primers.
Even the humble 87gn V Max was getting just over 3,000fps with MAX loads of H4350 and win 760
Bob

Maybe things run slow in the land down under?

 

[MS 9x56]

Maybe things run slow in the land down under?

Bob has never been known for loading any calibers slow. You must not be from around here.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

@Inline6
I've tried H4350/2209, H4831SC/2213,Reloader 22 and win 760 and couldn't get anywhere near those velocities before I ran into pressure problems of very flat primers.
Even the humble 87gn V Max was getting just over 3,000fps with MAX loads of H4350 and win 760
Bob

I know what the problem is Bob…

Coriolis effect in the southern hemisphere is acting against the bullet spin direction due to your barrel rifling. Slowing those bullets down! It’s all because your rifles were made for the upside of the world…

 

[Woodcarver]

If you can climb to timberline you can get much closer.

Marmots are easy to get close to, but you have to get close to or above timberline to find them. That is the issue for a LOT of folks.
Elk, or muleys, above timberline can be problematic to close the gap. Really depends on the terrain. How many and how big are the rocks, how deep and steep are the ravines between you and the bull/buck, how deep is the snow, how badly is the wind swirling, etc., etc. I find it easier to close the distance in the timber typically.

I haven’t performed any energy tests for bullet types and calibers. Colorado Division of wildlife says “1,500 lbs energy is required for elk” where did they get that number?? Not sure. Other people have stated 1,200, 1,300 etc…
Lots of variables here - what is the size of the animal, bullet/shot placement (hit bone - shoulder, ribs, etc). Broadside shot vs. quartering. At the end of the day what is the magic number (energy wise) to get proper bullet expansion and penetration.

Which is kinda funny; from the regs; the minimum energy for a rifle is 1000ft/lbs at 100yds with an 85gr bullet for elk (70gr for deer, antelope and bear), but only 550ft/lbs at 50 for a pistol. Both need to be .24 caliber or larger.

No offence taken. I do also hunt with a bow in season. Your right at 250 yards it would be bang flop. But to be honest I am not a trophy hunter, I am a meat hunter. Now don't misunderstand that B&C buck would still he bang flop. What I will not do is take a shot that has a higher probability of ending in a wounded animal or a mile pack or drag back to camp. If someone wants to shoot long distances and then brag about it in video, that's their thing. Have at it, but don't call it hunting, call it what it is, shooting.

I wouldn't have shot quite a number of deer or elk if I put that restriction on myself. Not uncommon to end up several miles from camp during the course of a days jaunt. No way back but shank's mare, with or without the "fun" of a loaded backpack. But the shots on elk have all been up close and personal so far. I would have "enjoyed" packing out that bull mentioned above; roughly a mile to the nearest road.
Last year, helped a new hunter haul his KS deer out; a little over 2 miles, but it was fairly flat. Our distances out here are probably a bit longer than most you'd experience hunting in NY (or most of our eastern states). Probably how the adage "The work starts when you pull the trigger" originated.

 

[CBH Australia]

Ten, Ten pages Wa,Ha, haha-hah

 

[Ridge Runner]

Actually in trap you get no bonus points or handicap shooting against a 12 gauge. Skeet has its own gauge classes. Trap does not. But if you choose to shoot a 410 against a 12 gauge you are a fool. But now you have switched to shotguns which doesn’t translate into rifles.

Actually the 410 does translate into rifle/ pistol as it is the only caliber "shotgun". All other shotguns are actually gauges.

However, this discussion is for another thread of its own.

 

[MS 9x56]

Marmots are easy to get close to, but you have to get close to or above timberline to find them. That is the issue for a LOT of folks.
Elk, or muleys, above timberline can be problematic to close the gap. Really depends on the terrain. How many and how big are the rocks, how deep and steep are the ravines between you and the bull/buck, how deep is the snow, how badly is the wind swirling, etc., etc. I find it easier to close the distance in the timber typically.

Which is kinda funny; from the regs; the minimum energy for a rifle is 1000ft/lbs at 100yds with an 85gr bullet for elk (70gr for deer, antelope and bear), but only 550ft/lbs at 50 for a pistol. Both need to be .24 caliber or larger.

I wouldn't have shot quite a number of deer or elk if I put that restriction on myself. Not uncommon to end up several miles from camp during the course of a days jaunt. No way back but shank's mare, with or without the "fun" of a loaded backpack. But the shots on elk have all been up close and personal so far. I would have "enjoyed" packing out that bull mentioned above; roughly a mile to the nearest road.
Last year, helped a new hunter haul his KS deer out; a little over 2 miles, but it was fairly flat. Our distances out here are probably a bit longer than most you'd experience hunting in NY (or most of our eastern states). Probably how the adage "The work starts when you pull the trigger" originated.

True that. Plus I’m getting a bit long in the tooth and just had both knees replaced this summer so that is limiting my carry weight these days. I am sure a horse would help but getting them above timberline would be a challenge.

 

[grand veneur]

Ten, Ten pages Wa,Ha, haha-hah

Understandable, controversial topic.

I have also shot Elk's at distances up to 500 yards, but with cartridges like the 340 WBY-Magnum or 9,3x64 and bullets with a weight between 250gr and 300gr.

The cartridge 243 Winchester is a good cartridge for long range shots, but on game the size of a Roe Deer, Chamois or may be a small Scottish red deer, and as a hunter you have normally reached the limits of this cartridge.

 

[HankBuck]

True story I shot a deer so close with my muzzleloader it singed the hair around the entrance wound and I found the plastic sabot inside the heart. Range 24". Truth I was napping at base of tree under my tree stand when deer walked up and was sniffing me when I woke up.

What “Game Farm” was that on? kidding but that’s a really DUMB DEER, why didn’t you just Knife it ?

 

[Inline6]

What “Game Farm” was that on? kidding but that’s a really DUMB DEER, why didn’t you just Knife it ?

This is very common, if you ground hunt. Have killed several deer the same way. Deer are curious by nature, if you are asleep in camouflage sitting on the ground at the base of a tree. You don't looking very threatening.

 

[colorado]

Understandable, controversial topic.

I have also shot Elk's at distances up to 500 yards, but with cartridges like the 340 WBY-Magnum or 9,3x64 and bullets with a weight between 250gr and 300gr.

The cartridge 243 Winchester is a good cartridge for long range shots, but on game the size of a Roe Deer, Chamois or may be a small Scottish red deer, and as a hunter you have normally reached the limits of this cartridge.

Don't get me wrong, since I got my last cow elk with my 500 Jeffery, but I think those cartridges are a bit overkill for elk. A 270, 30-06, 7mm Rem Mag or 300 Win or Wby Mag are more than enough for elk at 500 yards with good shot placement.