ORIGINAL: younggun243

Ifyou can shoot a 30-06 as well as you can shoota .243, an ethical hunter would get the 30-06, because if he can put that 30-06 in the vitals, and he can do the same with the .243, then why choose the .243?A 30-06, if it hits the exact same area as a .243, with the same kind of bullet, lets say, Sierra Gameking, the 30-06, no argument, will do more damage than the .243, the reason people say the someone can still wound a deer, or that a .243 will kill a deer as good as a 30-06, or .300 Win. Mag., is that some people can't shoot the 30-06, or .308 if they're recoil shy, like, young hunters (i.e. 9 year olds whose bodies aren't changing yet to become adult), but a 16 year old, should be able to shoot at least a .308, heck, I'm not even 16 yet, and I shoot a .308 accurately, which is my gun.

A 16 year old, can, and should shoot a 30-06 instead of a .243. .243 is just a bare minimum, why do that, when you can get higher velocity, and bigger bullet mass and more powder, and shoot it just as well?
I would still recommend a recoil pad for an '06, especially if it'sa bolt-action, like a LimbSaver, it'll turn the '06 into a plinker, my grandpa did that with his Model 70 XTR, and I was amazed at the easiness of shooting that gun.
Plus, the recoil of a .30 caliber high-powered rifle, kinda feels good, sorta' saticfactory. It fuels your ego, lol.

Now, if he got a 7mm-08, that wouldn't be the bare minimum, it's a very powerful round, and although it kicks just a little more than the .243, it has noticably more power. But, still, the .308, being a .30 cal, would be better, plus it's got more ammo availability.

Bottom line, if the guy can't shoot the 30-06 well and deadly, and is going to miss deer, wound them, etc., THEN get the .243 or the .308 or the 7mm-08, but do the most you can well, that's my point, and sorry if I made a post too long when I was typing in a circle.