I've shot deer with everything from a .243 to a .300WSM. And if you limit your shots to 150 yds or less, the ole 30.30 is one of the finest deer slayers ever was or will be. It kicks very little, and those slow bullets just have a way of poking through a whitetail from any angle, especially the 170 grainers. And yeah, at that range, I like the 30.30 better than the .243 'cause it does shoot a heavier bullet, has a larger diameter, and doesn't tend to blow up when striking heavy bone like the .243 sometimes does.[8D]