Seems to me that, if you liked shooting your buddy's .243, it fits your specifications pretty darn well. It's potent enough to take deer anywhere in the state, out to about 300 yards. If you're worried about whether it's got enough juice for big hogs, go to the hog hunting forum and check out the porkers that Guess and his wife have shot using .243's. It's a sweet rifle. If you do your part, it'll take down anything in the state.