If you are recoil sensitive, stick with the .243 Winchester. Savage makes a good shooting rifle for not too much. 257 Roberts is also decent; if memory serves me right, Ruger has one available. I like the 7 mm mauser, 7mm-08, 270 and the grand ol 30 06, but they are not everyone's cup of tea. However, people buy the .243 and stick with it, because they can hit with it and bring home the game if you use marksmanship. Nuff said.