the 243 is a great gun which I have one. but at the longer range I would go with the 308.

Thanks for all of the info, guys. I've decided to go with both!
I just got a Rossi single shot in a .243, and I'm waiting on Savage to come out with the Accu-Trigger this year for the .308. BTW, Since Rossi was taken over by Taurus, their quality is much better than the ones that I had looked at years ago.
Charlie

If you plan on hunting or shooting deer at 300 yards , I'd opt for a 7 mag

I have a Savage .308 model 110FP. It's great!

David Mills, I know you and ole Len, like to hunt in the Urban Petting Zoo as he calls it, but a huge amount of hunter still hunt the eastern shore, with flat property. If you hunt the fields or swamps, 350 yard shots can be very common.

I used a 243 for over a decade but since then have fell in love with a 308Win. I believe a 308Win teamed up with a 150gr bullet shooting 2950fps is a perfect deer combination.

Since I posted last on this one, I picked up a Savage Scout rifle in 7mm-08 so I now have the 308 Browning A Bolt Stalker, The Ruger all weather 260 and the Savage 7mm-08. Am I ready for deer or What?

308!!! "Snipers" have been using the 308 for years and there is a very good reason for that, ACCURACY!! I have the 308 in 15in pistol and 22in rifle barrels for my Encores and have taken several deer with both. With the right shot-placement, I've never had a deer run over 30yds before piling up. I shoot 150gr ballistic tips in both. I know that the 243 has taken plenty of deer, but to me, the 308 rules!