I personally have taken 3 deer with my 243 and none have taken a step it was all shot placement on the other hand i shot a mule deer this year that ran about 25 yards before expiring at short distances 50-100 yards the 243 will mushroom alot better than an 06 thus giving more of a hit and shocking the deer. Just for a little add in with my bullet hits ribs which it always does, i can take my fist and shove it all the way inside it so meat damage might be a problem but ribs dont have to much meat on them just stem meat basically. I personally now have moved up to a larger caliber the 300 WSM, but the choice of rifle is all up to you my friend. Just to add to the recoil bit my 243 kicks worse than my dads 06 much lighter gun!!!!!!