my dad has got a 243 222 308 30-30 in a 788 they have been great guns he got the 243 in 1972 has shot 1000's of rounds through it the only problem he had with any of them was the bolt handle came off the 243 once a gun smith put it back on its been fine me and my dad both shoot 243 for deer andi have never had one get away i have only had two go more than 50 yards from where they were shot the gun and the caliber have been great for every thing from deer to prairie dogs it dont matter what you shoot if you don't hit it right it will run