RE: 243 and deer
I might consider a 243/223 if I were just hunting varmits and whitetails. However I like a litttle more versitility when I buy a rifle. Where I hunt, elk are also common and the mulies are big critters. The 7mm-08 has very little more recoil than the 243 but is so much more versitile that Its a no brainer for me.