ORIGINAL: Anthony T.
Is it that the bigger cartridges make you look like a bad shot? or is it that the smaller cartridges make you look like the best shot?
Now a 243 is a different story. it's a great deer cartridge, but dont use it because you think it makes you look "cool" or look like "the best in the west", use it because you like it.
Bottom line is just use what you were brought up to use or what you like to use. You only look cool in your eyes.
It's actually none of those reasons. A .243 is cheap to shoot, fun to shoot at the range (no recoil), can be found in a smaller, more portable rifle than others, and apparently will get the job done as well as most of your "big" calibers.
Looking cool has nothing to do with it...
I was brought up not shooting anything, and am trying to make an educated decision now that I have the opportunity to do so.