If I were starting from scratch - I would likely choose a 7-08 or a 6.5 just for the better bullet selection. The .243's max out at about 100grns
That being said - I have a .243 and I think it is a perfect deer / coyote combo gun. Lighter 55 grain bullets can be loaded down to about 3200 fps and they are decent on coyote pelts, or you can speed them up and hit them like the hammer of Thor!
Loaded with heavier bullets, you have a great deer rifle that has surprised me with the amount of damage done to the insides of every deer I've shot. Massive wound channels.
.243 is in no way undersized for deer IMO
|