RE: 308 or 243?
Well Bighorn let me put it to you this way. I've shot 2 deer with the 308 and they ran off. One right into another hunter who claimed it. The 2 I shot with the 7-08 - one dropped where it stood and the other never got out of his bed. IMO the 7-08 is on the same playing field as the 270 Win. And I've shot many animals with the 270.
And the 7-08 is a necked down 308 case as isthe 243.
I like the 308 as a target round but it just doesn't suit me as a hunting round. I know thousands of hunters love it. Just not me.