Did this same thing 3 years ago and I went with a Remington Model 7 Youth .260. It was between the 7mm-08 and the 260. They are practically the same but the .260 has about 1.5-2 pounds less recoil than the 7mm-08. I would not go with the .243, like said before it is not very forgiving. I have taken 3 and my wife 1 with the 260 and have yet to have one take a step. My son killed one on the 1st with my nephews 7mm-08 and dropped it in it's tracks. Good Luck