I have two 243's a Weatherby Vangard VGL and a Rem Model7.. Both are fine shooting guns.. The Model 7 is better IMO than the Weatherby.. I also have a 7mm-08 in a Ruger Compact and after a trigger job this will go toe to toe with the Model 7. And while I am not comparing apples to apples because they are diferent guns the recoil on the Ruger is not 50% more than the Model 7.. But I did have a Rem Model 7 in 7mm-08 several years ago. Then thing reached up and busted my nose the first two times I shot it.. THe recoil on that one sure felt about 50% more than the 243 Model 7.. But I just got the 243 Model 7 in 06 while I got had the 7mm-08 Model 7 back in 2000..

The gun will make a big difference in felt recoil.. Both rounds are great for deer. If your only gonna do varmits and deer, then the 243 is the way to go.. If you think you will go out west for Elk or Mule deer then the 7mm-08.. I subsbribe to the logic that I get a gun exactly for what I am going to use it for. Then if I decided to go after something else.. I get a new gun..