Great gun and round depending on where you are. North country (northern states, Canada) you never find it. It just doesnt have the mass to reliably anchor heavy bodied northern deer. 30 calibers reign for a reason. In more southerly states with smaller deer body size predominating, I know it is very popular.

Pfffft.
.243 100 gr bullet has an SD of .242
.30 caliber 165 gr has an SD of .248
It puts bigger holes in deer than my 140 gr 7-08
The .243 will anchor any whitetail or muley that walks the earth.

There isn't a whitetail alive, anywhere, that a .243 can't take down cleanly. Its a great whitetail, antelope, yote gun. I love my 700 Mtn SS in .243.

I shoot a .300 WSM for the big stuff

X2! Absolutly nothing wrong with the .243 on Whitetails, ANY Whitetails!

Somewhat have to agree with this one. Not that I would not use the .243 in the northern states and Canada, but if I did I would make sure I used a good quality bullet. In the past 3 years in northern Minnesota, I shot 3 large bucks weighing in at #265, #300, and #365 pounds. The shoulders were massive on these guys. I feel really comfortable with my 30-06 in thick woods.

theres a few thousand deer that cant stand the 243.but they cant comment!lol

I've taken two elk with a .243. One head-on, the other a right shoulder quartering shot. Neither took more than a step after the shot.

There's one reason not to use the .243 on deer-sized game, but it has nothing to do with the caliber or rifle.

LOL!!! End of story.

What is the twist rate on that barrel? The reason I ask is that alot of the older 243's had twist rates designed for smaller/lighter bullets. A 100gr 243 will drop a deer as fast as a vw van, but if the barrel wont stabilize the bullet, then hitting it might present a problem...shoot a couple of groups for us and see which bullet weights work best for you...85gr and up will do the trick on deer...

I have no trouble killing deer with mine.........I use 100gr Sierra "Game Kings".....