I have a 260 Frem. I like real well. The recoil is light and it comes in light weight rifles like the Ruger Lt Wt and the model 7 Remington. I would not recommend a 243 to anyone as I have seen to many wounded deer get away even after pretty good hits. The exception would be if you reload and use Nosler Partitions or Barnes X bullets. These make a decent rifle out of the 243. When I guided hunters we had to chase after 50 percent or more of the Mule deer hit with the 243. Lately the ammo makers are producing some pretty good 243 loads but the early loads were a nightmare.