Doe Dumper,
You are not going to get any bashing from me on this one!
I have defended the .243/6MM as a "good minimum" for deer, and I really think that it is!
When I defend the .243, I think of others who detest it as a minimum, as much as I detest the .22 CF's!
The "tattle-tale" for the .22 shooters is they are mostly head/neck shooters! They KNOW that the .22's are NOT reliable for shots to the "REAL" vitals! On the other hand, the .243/6MM, with 100 gr. bullets will do the job all day long up to 250 yards or so!
I will say, step up from the .243 if possible! But, the .243 does give you a "room for error" that the .22's do not!
You are right, a little heavy for vermin, a little light for deer, but a good combo-gun minimum for deer!