christ you two.....quit whining....who cares who's killed more of what with what...blah blah blah....if the original guy who posted this is still here....the 243 will work on deer.....if you think you need more and can handle it...get more of a gun....if youre the recoil shy type....try a 7x57...although i dont think remington makes that gun in that caliber...in that case get a 7mm-08...just as good.....christ if those are your average shot lengths (100yards or so) and your not set on the model 700, get a 30-30...you'll have no problems.....just get something you can shoot well with, practice, and use good bullets and you'll have no problems....a deer isnt that hard to kill.