To me it is not a question of "degree of dead". I want the deer or whatever to drop in it's tracks. Tracking and chasing deer, no matter how far is a bad thing. I have had deer go as little as fifty yards, yet that fifty yards was straight down hill(down a vertical slide one time), and add hours to the recovery time. The way to assure a drop in it's tracks shot is simple. Put the crosshairs on the front shoulder and break him down. yes there is some meat damage, but I can live with that. I want the animal down right there-period. I do not wish to start a conflict here, but there is no more humane way to dispatch an animal. Head shots are a bad idea.

I do not concern myself with pass throughs. Bullet retention or the likes. I also do not feel the need for the expensive bullets. A good quality bullet or a well cast lead bullet is all that is needed. Put that bullet in the front shoulder, then go pick him up.

The most important part of cartridge selection is the ability of the hunter to deliver his bullet where he wants the bullet to be(the front shoulder for me). The hunter should shoot the heaviest and most powerful cartridge that he can shoot comfortably, and effectively. To me there is no such thing as degrees of dead. I shoot alot, so a heavy 30 caliber or my 45-70's are no problem.

If you feel more comfortable shooting a .243 then by all means do so. But if you can effectively shoot a 30-06-then that is what you should be shooting. Tom.