I started out with a .243 many years ago. They definitly didn't have the bullet selections that they do today, but every load I tried in a 100gr bullet had the same results...lost deer. I shot around 20 or sodeer with that rifle. The 1st 10 or 12 with 100gr core lokt, nospart, hornady bt...All wiht the same result, no exit hole and several lost deer. I ended up switching to an 85gr fed hollow point bullet and the deer started dropping. My exit holes werebigger and the blood trails were alot better. I do agree that different bullets act differently from different guns(shew alot of differents in there). I was still having to trail them a good bit but Ididn't loose anydeer after switching. My dad and uncle got tired of trailing deer every weekend (I was 12-13yrsold)so we sold the 243 and I stepped up to a 270. Since then I've only lost 2 deer..both dueto poor shot placement. After hunting with a 243, I personally(IMO) don't think a 243 is an adequate deer gun. I'm not saying it won't killa deerbut I think by stepping your round up to a 7/08 or 308 you will have alot better results with the same or similar recoil. I've heard and experienced more lost deer shot with a 243 than any other common deer round out there. I cringe everytime my wife wants to bring her's hunting with us. I wish I could get her to trade it in ona 7/08 or 270. She killed her 1st deer with it so it will probably be here for a while.