Hardcast I too have had experience with both cartridges and Having shot both deer and bear with both (many deer) I've had all but one deer be DRT with the .243. Every deer shot with the .308 ran. Also a bear I shot with the 308 ran far enough to get killed by another hunter. And each and every shot I put into it, 4 in total, were lethal hits. I know this for a fact because it rained heavily the night before and I could see the water splashing from him on impact.