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I like mine, but it was free several years ago so I didn't shop them...cranked up on high it sears good enough, but definitely not a true sear. If I was buying one now I don't know which I'd choose. I think the newer ones have a pellet release...mine doesn't and I just scoop them out if I want to change before burning them all. +1 on the smoke tube too.

You gotta shop vac out the ash on a traeger, and not sure if they have a pellet release to change out types. I went with camp chef. At the end of the day you will have smoked meat with any brand you go with. I'm a best bang for the buck guy and camp chef serves that purpose well imo.

Pit boss is an az company , cheaper and can sear quite well

Easy decision imo. Shoot the rifle, with the most knock down power, he can ACCURATELY shoot. Try out the 06, if he can't handle it, go lighter.

Not the biggest bull I saw but a nice 6x6 with my dad. More than happy to have punched my tag on a bugling bull.

Shot placement is critical with any chambering. I would rather a double lung or shoulder shot on an elk with a .243 than a ham shot with a 338 WM. A 243 with a premium bullet such as a partition or monolithic at 2900-3100 FPS will will be just fine for elk. I know I'm in the minority here, but I detest brakes on hunting rifles. They add length and weight to the rifle, and make hearing protection and absolute necessity for the hunter and party.

So this year I found out I had drawn a tag like everyone else after the 3rd round of card hits. I was already making plans for other things in September because no one I knew drew a tag. But come to find out, not only did I draw, but so did my work partner for the same hunt. So the planning began. Over the last 10 years I have done everything I could to help friends and family on their hunts and to learn as much I could. And it definitely paid off. Opening morning we were able to call in this dink for my buddy. At 25 yards he was able to knock the wind right out of him. He ran maybe 80 yards and piled up. That night we hiked his elk out and I went back in Saturday morning. I had several close calls, but couldn't seal the deal. One was my target bull that will probably haunt my dreams. I had him at 37 yards but couldn't get him to step out from behind a tree. He decided I wasn't sexy enough and returned to his cows and out of my life. Sunday morning came, and now I had 2 buddies to help. It was a fun day with several passes and almosts. One stand we had a small 6 come in, when a wolf about 200 yards behind us starts howling. That bull cleared the country. But I was going to pass on him anyways. Later that evening we set up on higher ground when an elk bugled below us. We gave a couple soft calls and he came in hot on a run. When he got to 22 yards I made my shot. He ran down hill where he took his final breaths. I had a lot of folks give me solid advice before this hunt and thanks to them we had an amazing time. I definitely would not have got it done without them.

I have one I’ve cooked on at least twice a week for past few years. Love it.

The higher end pit bosses has the easy ash dump https://pitboss-grills.com/grills/wood-pellet/pit-boss-platinum-laredo-1000-wood-pellet-grill-1 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pit-Boss-Platinum-Laredo-1000-Sq-in-Wi-Fi-and-Bluetooth-Enabled-Wood-Pellet-Grill-and-Smoker/269430405 I have this one and it’s pretty sweet.

I picked up a Pro 22 ( my third, don’t ask) . I’ve had nothing but problems with the temp control. Traegers replaced the temp probe, controller, and then send a whole new fire box which is essentially the whole grilling part. It still swings to 455 when set at 350, I don’t trust it to leave it alone to cook which is one of the big attractions of pellet grills for me. I think that their Chinese factories quality control went down hill. The other two I’ve had worked spot on, I still have one of them and never get more than a 15 degree swing up or down from set temp. I have not used a Pitboss, but they are a lot of grill for the money. I’m wishing now I had gone with one.

I shopped around and went with the Camp Chef. Has a dump gate for ashes and one for pellets. Also purchased the propane sear box that mounts to the side. Gets mega hot. Great set-up for what I need and easy to use/maintain.

Set some bear traps!

I have the pit boss and would recommend it.

DONT WOULD BE MY ADVISE, (YODER YS)

They do not sear meat at all. They only thing they are terrible at. I have 3 ans like them however my next one will be a masterbuilt gravity series

Ah, I want this but no idea when I could get up there!

Sportsmans had a 3 pack of cameras for a hundred bucks . Comes with batteries and SD cards . Stealth cam 16 Meg. I ordered 2 of the 3 packs and sent them to my dad's buddy in Texas.

weight

Thanks for the input- we're off to the range this weekend

Shot placement is critical in a lower caliber gun, especially on an elk. If he were to get buck fever when he's trying to hold steady on an animal, (it can hit anybody, and you can't practice shooting with buck fever) you can see all the steady practice go out the window. I would recommend the 06 for the first time just to have the extra punch for a less than perfect hit on a live hunt. Just my 2 cents. I agree with the muzzle break too, really helps. Hope he has a great hunt and you can set the hook for life!

Biggest question!!!! Does the 06 have a muzzle break? If not I would go the 243 route. My 10 year old shoots my 06 with a break all day long. Without it, it's gonna kick like a mule. If you have him try the 06 first he might create a fear in pulling the trigger causing bad shot placement. Just my 2 cents!

The 243 will do but the 06 is definitely better . You can try some hornady lite recoil rounds in the 06 . It will be a little more bullet weight and a bigger dia than the 243 . Get him use to the 06 with the lite rounds for bench work and sight in and then run the 150s to hunt . Most hunters don't feel or hear the shot when shooting at a animal. If he's still not comfortable I've got a 6.5 Creedmoor with a break on it or a 300wm with a break that shoots just as soft as the 243 I'd lend you for his hunt.

If you use the 243 use Nosler Partitions and keep the range below 250yrds.

Like others said the 06, BUT….don’t fear the .243’s abilities with a good bullet. when my son had his first bull tag all he wanted to use was his .243 so I loaded him up some 100 grain partitions and low and behold he slew a young bull at 137 yds with one shot. The bull dropped on the spot and the bullet blew on through. And he wasn’t exactly a tiny bull body wise.

Yeah the success posts here have took a big nose dive over the last 5 years. I used to love seeing the posts and stories but people have moved to social media I think for that. I don’t do those so I come to look here and usually nada!