Some very interesting comments on the .243 i've just read. The .243 is more then enough cal for what you want to hunt believe me. I hunt with a single shot .243 and have taken bear, elk, mule deer with it. It is a great caliber that doesn't get the respect it deserves. My mother is 70 years old and has hunted with the .243 exclusively scince 1959, she has taken more moose, elk, deer and bears with that rifle then i can count.
if you want to shoot the .243, go for it, because i've saved the last little nugget of info for last, and that is the .243 is THE most popular hunting cartridge in europe for stag and moose, but here in the states, it is the Rodney Dangerfield of calibers, it get's no respect..