I have a friend that has a 257 roberts. he loves it. his daughter has shot alot of deer with this gun. but, on the point about the 243. I have one and hunt many of deer with it. lot of the deer I have taken went down in the first shot I have all so tracked some but, always got them. I then took it to maine on a bear hunt and killed a nice 250 LB black bear with it. one shot and put it down. shot placement is everything. don't under estimate the 243.

Hunt long and shot straight!!!

I had a 257 (gave it to my freinds kid for his first B-day) and with the 120 NP it killed deer with authority, As for the 243, Any animal needs a heart and lungs to live which a .243 can reach with no problem so shot placment is everything ..Bill