".243 won't penetrate"?

.243 is fine for deer, especially if you're concerned about recoil. The .260, 7mm-08, and .308 might be worth considering too. I've used a .243 for years on whitetails, mule deer, and antelope. It's every bit as effective (sometimes I beleive MORE effective) than the .30-06s and .270s we also carry to the woods.

And yes, the .243 will produce a blood trail just like the other cartridges, I've never had to trail a deer hit with it veryfar, but yes, it DID penetrate.