Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Ok, .243 on moose

My son has a very good chance of getting drawn for moose this year. He is 14, has 3 deer under his belt, all with his ,243.
He has also shot my 6.5x55, but not my 30.06

If he were to get drawn, and decided to use his .243, which premium bullet would you recommend?

Barnes

+1..rock on....

Not sure if this is a trick question or your a troll. Your son is old enough to learn how to shoot your 06.

If he doesnt have any problem w/ it, Id load him up some 160 gn. Woodleighs for that Swede, its a classic Moose caliber, any of the three You mentioned will work but, ID fire up that little Swede and let her eat.

Gunner

Vat caliber do you suppose does Swede's shoot their mooses wif?

Moose are hardly immune to 6mm projectiles. I have even done it with C&C bullets... Though that would never be my choice again.

Not a trick at all Ed. He is a bit small for his age, and a bit recoil shy, hence why I haven't pushed the 30.06 on him.
I'll be having him shoot it this summer, but he may find it a bit much. Hence the question.

..........At 14, he`s old enough to get started with the 30-06.

For moose, a 30-06 is a far more desirable choice than a 243.

I hear ya......my thoughts as well. But if he shoots the 30.06, and it scares the crap outta him, need a backup plan.
He does shoot the 6.5x55 well, so that is another better otion as well. Lord knows the .303 will do it, has done it. I have one of those as an option as well.

Skatchewan...........Just read your last post. The 30-06 can be loaded down if your son is a little recoil shy.

Still, either the 6.5 or the `06 is a better choice for moose.

But of course, 9mm, 9.3,and 6.5, LOL

Gunner

edit: spelling

I agree with you 100%. Not saying a 243win is not capable in the hands of a experience shooter. But a 30-06 would be a better choice for better sectional density and bullet retension.

If he can shoot the 6.5x55, there's no need for any more talk about the 243 for moose. The only question will be if he can handle the 30-06, which would be better yet.

I'll wager the 6.5 kills more moose every year than any other single round.

Use the Swede and have no worries.

There is NO set age where any human can handle a .30-06. I've known a bunch of adult he-men who can't shoot it well.

If you have any doubts about the .243, load some good 120-130 grain bullets in the 6.5x55, whether Nosler Partition, Barnes Tipped TSX, or whatever. 2700-2800 fps will do fine, and not kick much more than the .243.

There's no need to use heavy bullets in the 6.5x55 if you're using premium bullets. All they heavy bullets will do is kick more.

85gr TSX in that .243, or else a 130gr TTSX in the Swede.

I always get into trouble on the .243/big game posts. Here in KS whitetails come a little larger than in some areas of the country. Our season is in Dec and it is cold. Our deer camp is a wood heated shed with fridges and cookers. Anywhere from 6 to 20 folks for lunch and dinner. It's a bummer to be sitting after dark and having munchies and cold drinks, when someone comes in with a tracking job. Stuff happens and folks bite the bullet and volunteer. But this happens more with the .24 calibers, (smallest legal), than all the other cartridges used.

My 11 yr old granddaughter hunted one year with a .243 and moved up to a .250Sav the next year. Good luck. I am sure I will hear about this post.

Use the 6.5X55 with a good 120 to 140g. Have him practice. Yes a 243 can kill a moose if everything is just right, but given your options it is not the one I would pick. I don't think that the Swede will kick that much more than a 243 with 100 or 105g. At least to me they don't. It will be much less recoil than the 30.06 or the 303. The 6.5X55 is proven hundreds of times ever year on moose. My daughter loves my 6.5X57, she picked it over the wifes older 243 winchester.

130gr TSX in the Swede is your answer.