I carried one for about 10 yrs, both my father and mother used .243's for about 20 yrs, and my youngest brother still carries one. Oh yeah, and my girlfriend used one for a doe and a buck this year. I've seen alot of venison fry b/c of that round, and would not hesitate to use it for deer (I took a doe with hers this year). I've never seen a penetration problem (including shoulder bone and head shots), and only rarely can I think of a time when there wasn't a good exit wound. My mom used hers on a cow elk once, but you will have to have a good shot and get in pretty close to use one this way (she droped it in one shot). I have never had to hit a deer twice with a .243 if I made a good first shot (the only animal I can remember having to hit more than once was an antelope I gut shot when I was twelve!). All of the above mentioned were Brownings (most BLR and one A-bolt). Anybody who tells you that it is too small of a round for deer has not used a .243 sufficiently. It's a fine deer round. Btw, I usually hunt muleys and shoot over 200 yrds regularily without any problems. That said, I've just bought an a-bolt 300 rum (other end of the spectrum) and am trying to find out opinions on a weaver v12 for it. Is this a tough enough scope to withstand the abuse? Thanks!
Good luck with the 243.