ORIGINAL: James B

To each his own. I have seen to many hunters try to hit an animal even at 300 tards to condone shots that long with such a light bullets. Like I said before I think it's silly for you to think 115 gr of lead is ok but not 100 gr. The only good thing is that most hunters couldn't come close enough to an animal at 500 yards to even hit it and wound it. I have seen a lot of first time steel shilouette shooters who can't come within 50 yards of hitting the 500 meter Ram which has a body about the size of a deer. I am all for 500 yard shots at targets but not at game animals. I agree,95% of us should not be shooting at game at 500 yds. The 243 will seldom knock down the Ram at 500 meters. It will if it's a live ram, and you hit it where it counts.Just not enough bullet weight. A lot of guys tried their 243's including me.
It's just silly for you to say the .243 would be limited to 200 yds, it's not a 30-30 that falls off the scale after 200 yds, it is one of the most flattest shooting cartridges available, retaining it's path and velocity for a long long way. It has the SD and BC needed for long shots too. It is a long range caliber, for deer and antelope and anything smaller.