Sorry Mr Longbeard, I realized that I didn't answer your question....Yes, I have taken that shot and the outcome was a dead deer....I bought a Ruger .243 in 1980, its the only centerfire rifle I own...I have killed at least 150 deer with...Along with a ton of crows, groundhogs, coyotes, and other "varmits"....

We own a few farms in eastern NC and kill 40-50 deer a year...I have either killed or cleaned deer killed with just about every centerfire caliber from 22-250 to .300 Mag....With the right bullets and proper placement, they all worked...I have also had to track deer hit in the guts with all of them...One of my brothers lost a good buck last week that he shot with the .300...

If you wound a deer with a .243, it ain't the caliber....Its either the shooter or a bad choice of bullets....If you need more, use more....