I have never had to track a deer over about 20 feet when using a 243 Hornady but have had to do some plain and fancy trailing when finding deer shot with a 243 Nosler Partition. The wound seems to be bigger and more destructive with the Hornady.
I have never lost a deer with either. Each of the several dozen deer at which I have shot with either bullet wound up in the freezer. I now load all my 243 Win and 243 WSSM deer hunting rounds with Hornady bullets.
My elk experience is limited to one with a 7mm RM and one with a 338 WM. Neither went very far. I think I would choose the Nosler or get some Barnes if I had to use a 243 on elk.
