Don't Worry Be Happy. Your friend has recoil concerns, better he shoots well with a small caliber than poorly with a large caliber. I've been using a 6mm since 1968 and taken many many whitetails. Most expire within 50 yards.

I agree you should have no worries about your friend's decision. Though I have not personally killed a deer with a .243 diameter bullet, I have been on a couple of hunts where other people have. The .243 Win. can kill deer cleanly, there is no reason the WSSM can't!!

What range will he likely be shooting at? The 243 isn't known for its range. And aren't those northern deer on the large size? Sure, the 243 has taken lots of deer, but I think the real question is whether its the most appropriate tool in your particular area. I'm with you on the 7mm-08 but he's probably stuck with what he bought at this point.

The super short magnums pretty much hit the market with a thud and haven't found the user acceptance that the WSM line did. If that doesn't change he's likely to need a reloading kit before too long. Even the folks over on the short mag forum seem to have written them off.

heres a comparison of 3 calibers , .243-7-08 and 280. The .243 has about the same or better coeficciency, has more speed even out at 3-400 yds, and is flatter shooting, the only thing the larger caliber has on it is more energy which would only help if you were to hit the shoulder bone on a deer. I use a .243 Win and use Hornady bullets in 100 gr. I have dropped big hogs with complete pass throughs at 200+ yds. I'll take it over almost any caliber.
Your friend is gonna love his WSSM. You have to understand the .243 was a wild cat, it's just a .308 with a 24 cal. bullet on the end, makes for an awsome round.link to caliber comparison

ok now think about this....

think of how many people out there use there .223's to kill deer each year? i think everyone else will agree with me that a .243 has quite a bit more power then a .223 so there definatly isnt a problem with using the 243wssm.

like with most other guns....SHOT PLACEMENT, SHOT PLACEMENT, SHOT PLACEMENT....

personally....i would have suggested a 25-06....i hear there great deer guns...

ch312

First of all, its a great caliber for deer hunting with plenty of power to take a deer down.
Second of all it depends on what the shooter wants, not what other people want.

i have killed a couple deer with a 243 and i love it. it has droped deer in there tracks. the only deer i had go over 30 or so yards was a big doe that i shot on the run in the guts. she went about 70 yards and droped. and the 243wssm is a little bit bigger so your buddy is fine. get him up to the range a couple times and your good to go!

Well, the .243 might not be enough rifle for deer for a damnyankee, but it's sure plenty good enuff fer us rednecks! Seriously though! The Eskimos shoot polar bear, walruses and seals with .22 Hornets and .223's all the time! They're all handloaders with no money, and can't afford to burn a lot of powder.

Elmer Keith believed the .30/'06 was inadequate for jackrabbits, too, and the reason was poor bullets in the early loadings! They loaded .30/40 Krag bullets in the '06 case, and drove them 500 FPS faster than they'd stand up to. IF you use a proper bullet, and hit the proper spot, it doesn't make much difference at all as to the diameter of the projectile. A 106mm recoilless rifle won't kill anything either, if you miss the target with it.

Be sure to tell that to these bucks I killed with the .243. Some of you have probably already seen this thread, some of you havent, these were last years bucks.Link to my 2 bucks.

not with a good 95 - 100 grain bullet. I was amzed at how WELL a 100 grain speer grand slam works on deer out of a 243.