I have a .243 and I use 100 grain Fedaral ammunition. I have dropped most of the deer that I have shot and some were out to 250 yards. The people that think a .243 is onlya varmit are the people that don't know how to shoot a gun because I've never not found a deer with my gun and my friend as a 30-06 and he has shot a wounded many deer. It all depends where you hit them.