As Randy Christensen stated to me at the Potosi, WI's running deer target shoot 10-06-02, that the 243/06 is reamed with a .243 cartridge size reamer, with its shoulder taper, the 6mm-06 is reamed with a 30-06 cartridge sized reamer with its shoulder taper. This is what I had always believed but never verified. Therefore, a 243/06 has more powder capacity than a 6mm/06 Wildcat. I'll look up the specs later and list them.

More on the 2004 Potosi Sportsman's Club shoot soon, with photos.

My latest 243/06 Wildcat deer loads | new 95 grain Hornady SST bullet and 100 grain Hornady [Interlock] loads | 55 grs. H-4831sc  Federal 215 PRIs | Both okay in my rifle only! Look for my .243/06 Wildcat loads on the left side of my split-screen links' page.

Shooting running game -  Off-Hand is both more dangerous and mighty tough to do, and is only for the seasoned hunter.

Use a shooting sling and if possible find a rest to shoot from ahead of time or drop to one knee if you can, or sit down if possible. You need to be in as stable a shooting position as possible but that allows you a smooth swing ahead of the  game. Since I usually shoot right handed I have more stability with my left side facing the path of the deer or coyote, or my body facing to the right of the path of the game. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet and swing through by very slowly pivoting your entire body using your legs and hips while keeping the horizontal cross-hairs level as the vertical reticule maintains the desired lead for an instant when you squeeze the trigger and follow through with your eyes and body after the shot.

Your chest rib cage supports your left arm down to the elbow with your left hand pulling the rifle into your cheek and shoulder, along with the pistol grip pull of your right hand. The rifle is supported my bone structure, not muscle. The upper body is only involved in pulling the rifle firmly to your shoulder and cheek.

Whisky Chamberlain of Idaho took 15 consecutive big bull elk, all one shot kills, with a regular .243 Winchester, therefore I believe with the right bullet and will placed and proper ranged shots the .243/06 Wildcat ought to be adequate on elk. I don't want to buy a new larger caliber rifle just to go elk hunting once or twice.

Today, 03/04/07, I saw on the Men's Channel "American Trophy Hunters,"  - Dish-TV CH 218, a massive old Elk shot at over 200-yards & dropped in his tracks with a .243-Winchester with open iron sights. They did not mention the  bullet weight or construction type, however, it proved to me that a Well Placed .243 bullet at 200-yards will deck the biggest Elk that walks.

Therefore, my 243/06 Wildcat ought to do the job on big Whitetails, big Mule Deer and on Elk with the Grand Slam bullet. I do not want to buy another larger caliber rifle to hunt elk, perhaps once in my lifetime.

In the 243 Winchester for big Mule deer & Elk, I would use the 100-grain Remington Core-Lokt Ultra factory cartidges, if reloading I would use the 100-grain Speer Grand Slam Bullets.

- Darrell

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