The 243 is a good round, but I would lean towards the 270. It's just a little more versitile. If the kick is a little to much for you to shoot comfortably, Remington make a managed recoil cartridge for the 270 that only kicks 1/2 as much and still has good accuracy and more that enough umph to put a deer down. If some time in the future you get to go elk hunting, you won't need to get a new rifle.