RE: First deer 243 and questions
I've recovered a 165 Nosler Partitioner fired from a .308 Winchester at about 40 yards on a quartering deer! It doesn't matter much what the caliber is, the angle, distance and what the bullet actually hits is going to determine if it will be a complete pass-through or not!
There was a time when I was into "magnumitis" but I've returned to the light recoiling 6MM/243! Hit 'em just right and they drop right there! And, if you make a good hit and they happen to run, the 6MM/243 leaves as good a blood trail as any 30 caliber does!