243 at 300 yrds on Dall Sheep and Caribou

[357smallbore]

I'm in the camp that the 243 can drop one of these critters at 300 yrds with a good constructed bullet.
I use 100gr Nosler Partitions. I wont shoot past 300 yrds do to my own skills and limitations. Taking my 243 as my light rifle to AK and my 338 as my heavy.

 

[Picher]

I'm not a western hunter, but limit shots with the .243 Win to about 200 yards on 100lb and up whitetails. I'd use my .270 Win for any medium game beyond 200, but what do I know?

 

[troy fairweather]

Ya for those animals at 300 with a good bullet without hesitation.

 

[George P]

On Sheep, sure, caribou? I am not so sure for that

 

[jmr40]

Worked on elk at twice that range.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...960D4FB94246504D0A2B960&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

 

[WisBorn]

With the investment it takes to hunt in AK if you don't live there I would use more gun.

The 243 would be a minimum caliber/cartridge for the intended game. 200 yards would be a maximum distance and your shots may be much farther than that.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I'm in the camp that the 243 can drop one of these critters at 300 yrds with a good constructed bullet.
I use 100gr Nosler Partitions. I wont shoot past 300 yrds do to my own skills and limitations. Taking my 243 as my light rifle to AK and my 338 as my heavy.

The .243 will work on both sheep and caribou if you do your job and place your shot. My favorite sheep/caribou/black bear go to has been a .25/06.

 

[JFrank]

So take a real good look , this Dude” is all freakin muscle and personally I would give him a hell of a lot more respect that a 243 @ 300 yards

 

[JFrank]

He put his head down at us in this next picture, figure he wasn’t in a great mood and maybe fixin to ram my truck door

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

The know a couple guys who use .243 on caribou regularly. I dont see any reason not to use it for sheep either, though many times to get to where sheep are you will be trudging through alders and river bottoms where you may end up close to a grizzly. Food for thought, I would just bring your .338, its all you need and was invented for Alaska.

 

[DocRock]

Certainly on paper. 6mm and 100 grs is not enough for me though. Both would 30-06 165 grs for my peace of mind.

Having said that, humping less weight means you'll be in better shape to make the good shot when you get it. And I have nothing to offer but my own misgivings of a round I have very limited experience of. So, at best, a data point.

 

[readyeddy]

Sounds like an epic hunt. I’m afraid to ask how much a hunt like that would cost.

If it were me, I would go 300 WM or something similar. From watching caribou and Dall sheep hunts on Meat Eater, 300 yards isn’t very long.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I'm in the camp that the 243 can drop one of these critters at 300 yrds with a good constructed bullet.
I use 100gr Nosler Partitions. I wont shoot past 300 yrds do to my own skills and limitations. Taking my 243 as my light rifle to AK and my 338 as my heavy.

You've got your bases covered for up here. 338 is very popular up here for moose and bear, but 243 has a somewhat cult following. It's quite popular in the rural villages. I hunt caribou with a 243 exclusively. (Headed out soon, in fact.) Took one (a lot larger than a ram) at 300. I like the Barnes X bullets.

 

[JFrank]

I'm in the camp that the 243 can drop one of these critters at 300 yrds with a good constructed bullet.
I use 100gr Nosler Partitions. I wont shoot past 300 yrds do to my own skills and limitations. Taking my 243 as my light rifle to AK and my 338 as my heavy.

PM sent..

 

[Steve S.]

They are not magic animals; shot placement/ marksmanship is the key. Again, nothing mystic or magic - pierce their lung/ heart area and they will die in due course.

 

[DoubleMag]

Guided hunt? Best to consult with the guide as to THEIR preference. They may say NO to ''xx ''xx'' ''xxx'' calibers.

And I would have at a minimum another hunter along WITH that heavier gun.

 

[Walkalong]

I'm in the camp that the 243 can drop one of these critters at 300 yrds with a good constructed bullet.

No doubt, so will a lot of calibers

 

[JFrank]

I can kill a 1000 pound Angus bull with a 22 rifle if I put it right between their eyes at 5 feet away.
I would be curious if y’all ask a professional guide how many clients made that perfect shot on animals after all the bunkhouse banter was over.
I’m a fairly decent shot myself but to be perfectly honest off hand is tough shootin.

 

[Cannibul]

I'd rather have too much gun than just enough gun.

IMHO 243 at that range is just enough gun....IF everything is perfect.

 

[JFrank]

I'd rather have too much gun than just enough gun.

IMHO 243 at that range is just enough gun....IF everything is perfect.

I believe this is a great point.
If anyone can get er done I would put my money on my fellow Libby resident @357smallbore

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I'm in the camp that the 243 can drop one of these critters at 300 yrds with a good constructed bullet.

I agree, it can.
But just because it can doesn't make it a good choice.
I would just use the .338 for everything.

But that's just one feller's opinion.

 

[Caplock]

Go up one more millimeter to a 7mm-08 light rifle. That and the 338 would be a sweet combo.

 

[Buzznrose]

With the investment it takes to hunt in AK if you don't live there I would use more gun.

The 243 would be a minimum caliber/cartridge for the intended game. 200 yards would be a maximum distance and your shots may be much farther than that.

Yes, the .243 will take down the critters you are after, but if I were headed to AK to hunt these critters (I lived in AK for 8 years but didn’t hunt big game personally, but had lots of friends who did), I’d either learn to shoot the .338 out to 400 yards or bring a good 7MM or .30 cal for the “light stuff”.

You do NOT want to wound one of these animals and have to chase them down. Granted, that can happen with a .338, but much less likely than with the .243.

Just my free advice..

 

[daniel craig]

It can. Can you?

 

[adcoch1]

I'm in the camp that states the rifle is enough to kill them, but how little insurance do you want?

A friend took a 243 as a light rifle along on a grizzly hunt to shoot Sitka blacktail. Ended up taking his bear ( and it was huge) with the 243 at 275 yards. He was a great shot, but he was also standing next to 3 other hunters with much heavier rifles. I would probably keep the range at a MAX of 200 unless the sheep can't get to the edge of a cliff before you can shoot again.