You know I used one since I was 12. I think we all forget that speed kills more than anything. On average, I would say the deer I shoot with 243 drops far faster and with much greater internal damage to the lungs than my shotgun slugs.

I haven' t used my 243 for over a decade. Might break her out this year to take a few crop damage doe. Last year, when butchering I studied the wounds and internal damage very closely. I always thought a saboted slug would do much more damage internally than a standard >2000fps but less than 2600fps rifle. But actually, I noticed a friends doe that was taken with a 22-250, that the lungs were melted. Extensive trama to the splene, kidneys other organs. but my sluggun left a great big exit hole but the lungs were in tact, no major damage to the other organs.

So can a 243 kill deer? You bet ya.