Probably one of the most popular rounds for a bolt action deer rifle. I am a 30 cal. fan, but I know scads of folks that use the 243 Win., including my daughter. I would suggest using a quality hunting bullet in the 100 gr. weight range. And if you are buying factory ammo be careful not to buy a cartridge intended for varmint hunting. These usually use a lighter weight bullet ( 50-75 gr. +/-) that is designed to expand rapidly. Not what you want for deer sized game.