while I fully agree a 243 win in the hands of a decent shot,
when properly used with the correct ammo is very lethal and effective on deer are reasonable ranges
(300 yards or so) I don,t think the better magnums are "over rated"
use a tool matching the intended job. magnums do have a valid place.
theres a very noticeable difference in my experience, in
the games initial reaction and in many cases, distance traveled once hit.
if your dealing with deer size game I prefer the 25/06-270 win class of cartridges.
yes a knowledge of the games anatomy and shot placement are as always critical,
yes hundreds of people kill elk every year with a 243 win, that does not make it ideal
each of us has different experiences, and I have decades of field time that make me more comfortable using a 340 wby or 375 H&H
on larger game like elk, especially if the potential range may exceed 300 yards,and shot angles tend to be less than ideal.
yes recoil is an issue some people don,t handle well, but personally its a non-issue at that level, and I've seen,
a noticeable and demonstrable advantage, in reach and penetration,
yes Ive used the same rifle calibers on mule deer, I've yet to see a deer shrug off a well placed hit from either rifle