Funny you say that, guy next to me yesterday had a GAP 270 WSM, they built a gun out of his action, complete w/a varmint fluted sendero contour bbl. Good for steadying....not so good for toting, no doubt he was a stand hunter.
I LIKE the ballistics of the 270 - inc. in the WSM, but I must say it has some real blast as most magnums. It was rather 'Sharp' and loud I must say.
When I dropped 2 - 243 bullets from my cold bbl into 11/16" at 200 yds, followed by the next 2 shots from the cooled off bbl, into UNDER 1/4", I thought, its just NOT that complicated.
SHOT placement...w/a good bullet. Cartridge name, horsepower, etc. is usually the least important assuming a good hit is made using any reasonable round.
Dead is dead and a 100 dead elk w/243s or 10,000 won't convince others it's adequate. Ideal, no, not given varying shot presentations, distances, etc. etc. BUT adequate...entirely when used w/in it's limits...of the bullet choice...WITH good vitals shot placement. Not my first choice on elk, but if it will take elk down, a deer/hog is a no brainer, truly.
I challenge ANY living elk to let me have on broadside hit with a 243 and an 80-85 Barnes up to 250 yds. Just ONE shot. I'd bet all I have EVERY said elk shot WILL die. And to go further, a 223 w/63 TSX will likely accomplish the same, though I'd put a floor of the 24 bore as a minimum on elk, under ideal conditions for it...not perfect mind you, just working within the limits of what it will do. I'd suspect MOST states require a 24 bore as minimum on elk.
I think the 243 is HIGHLY misunderstood, largely for 3 reasons:
1) Poor bullet choice...varmint bullets have no place for the most part, in pursuing large game in a 243/6mm. Also, modern bullet technology has added many more good bullets options for deer sized game.
2) Shot placement - NOTHING will kill if vitals are not hit, OR if you MISS completely. When an animal runs off and lost after the bang, can anyone TRULY KNOW w/100% certainty, it's the cartrige/bullets fault? Without KNOWING where a bullet hits, or IF it hit, or where it traveled after impact and what it did from entrance to it's resting place, you simple CANNOT conclude.
3) Ego's. I see it all too often. Men think it's just cool to shoot the big stuff.
I have NO qualms w/someone using as large a rifle as they can shoot well. I don't like being around them at the range as my ears hurt and sometimes they rock my bench! LOL.
SOME guys must think it's simply - NOT Manly..to use a 243. Meanwhile 260s and 7/08s have been in voque, ESP. w/deer hunters, and rightfully so. Lower recoil than say an '06 - the number one ctg. in the USA more than likely gives those shooters the ability to practice more, AND flinch MUCH Less, if at all. That = shot placement which = dead game.
I'd venture to say, show me a deer/hog that will die any slower using a 243 w/80-85 Barnes shot within 300 yds, than using a 260 or 7/08 w/cup core of choice. I'd argue statistics if obtained by a good sampling of similar shot placement would show equal effectiveness in how dead deer are post 243/Barnes hits
Not trying to convert anyone mind you, but I think 243/6mm's have been wrongly snubbed by many as too small for men. MY experience when using good bullets w/shot placement mirrors others who have done the same. Vitals taken out, deer/hogs die fast.
And lastly, 243s I am not saying are only effective w/Barnes, watched my son HAMMER deer w/85 BTHP Sierras out to 275 and 300 yds, and have used 100 Partition, and 95 Ballistic tips many times. Even neck shot and lung shot a couple w/70 TNTs. NO deer required a 2nd hit, and none ran any further after hit than any round used on average. Lung hits ran 30-60 yds. Typically of what I have seen using 7mm Mag, 7mm-08, 260s, 270s, etc.
I even had a small deer run 100 yds when trying out a rifle I built for elk hunting, a 338/06 w/200gr ballistic tip. As she ran TOWARD me then turned after I punched her, I could see the exit, red blood pumping out and what looked like a silver dollar exit - blood stain. I'd bet that little deer would have dropped quicker had I used what I had wanted to try that year on deer, a 6mm TCU, using 85 BTHP Gk's that my son used above in a 243. I believe the lighter more frangible bullet would have caused more trauma INSIDE that small deer due to how the bullet would have acted.
As a side note, had another good sized buck drop in 3 bounds after hit w/a raking shot from the rear, bullet stopping under hide shedding 80 of the 200 grains after busting offside shoulder. That was at 25 yds....another nice buck at 200yds dropped in tracks when the 200BT hit at the neck/shoulder juncture. NO doubt a 243 would have produced the same results. Shot placement was why it was a DRT. Nearly decapitating a doe w/my former Ruger #1 Mannlicher and using 70 TNTs, she also 'Dropped in tracks' dead.
Those who DOUBT 243s, do so, b/c they 'heard' bad stories or just cannot conceptually grasp it's ability. The ONLY cure for those in denial or ignorance of a 243/6mm's capabilities, is to USE one, chamber good bullets and place it thru vitals.
It WILL get the job done...if the shooter does their job.
Partitions, Speer 105s, Hornady 100s, etc. etc. all have done a good job over history.
YET, if someone wants recommendations for hunting deer/hogs, etc. with a 24 bore, here is my pick.
1) 80 TTSX and 85 TSX (or old XBT). Federal Premium loads the 85 TSX, and Barnes the 80 TTSX in factory Vortex line.
2) 95 Ballistic Tip (it's NOT soft or explosive, it's MEANT for serious use on big game - proven time again on deer/elk, and larger - penetration and retention, with good expansion is how I'd explain it). For factory ammo, look at Winchester Ballistic Silvertip line.
3) 90 Swift Scirocco SSII - assuming your accurate in YOUR rifle. May be some factory ammo, seems Rem was loading swifts in the past - not sure, but one or more mfg. may load these SSIIs.
I could hunt with others inc. the 90 BTs or 90 Etips, and might someday try the 90 Accubonds as I love them in my 130gr 260 and 6.5x55 loads, but I just don't think they will do anything the 95 BT will do given that BT has a rather stiff jacket for a 6mm.
As a side note, some 6mm shooters use fast twist barrels for accuracy with high BC bullets like the amax 105gr vld. My furthest deer kill, ranged at 400 yds dropped using the Amax from a 6mmBR (think 243 'short') - double lunged - she went 20-25 yds.
Those wanting a light recoiling, flat shooting, accurate round, that will kill deer/hog sized game very effectively, don't discount a 243 if you are not yet a believer. Your ears and shoulder must might thank you if you try one!
FWIW I started out w/a 7mag, went thru several 270s, 7/08s, 260s, 6.5x55s, 243s, 6BRs, 7BR, 338/06, etc.
In the past I liked the 270 and 7/08s very much, but as time went on and I used the smaller 6mm and 6.5mm rounds more and more on deer, I realized they killed just as well, and as a bonus, I could enjoy longer range sessions shooting more rounds in a given day, all pain free to my shoulder and ears.
The biggest bonus beyond that, is FLINCH FREE trigger control IMPROVING your hit ratio....accuracy. THAT is the BEST way to affect outcomes in the field, improving shooting skills, IMHO and IME.
FWIW, I'll choose a 243 ANY day over a 300 mag for deer, it's just me b/c I know 'dead = dead' no matter how you get there
Whatever you decide to use, just pick a good bullet, and put it where it belongs, thru vitals, all else will work out in the field.
Good shooting....and hunting guys/gals.