Allen...I own one centerfire rifle, a Ruger M-77 that I bought new in 1980...I have killed at least 185 deer with it out to a laser ranged 327 yards...In this time I have lost exactly one deer, frankly I believe it was my fault...

My brothers and their sons shoot .270s, .280s, 7mm-08 and a .300 Win Mag...They all lose deer, all have deer run off that I have to help track...

Let me tell you a secret...It ain't the gun, it's the fellow shooting it...

My deer rifle before the .243 was a 22-250, now back then, using the bullets avaliable the 22-250 was marginal, but I still killed a couple of dozen deer with it and lost only one...

Anyone that thinks the .243 is marginal for deer simply hasn't killed many deer with it...