I also use a .243 and I love it. Virtually flat at the range you are talking about. I shot a doe with it this year that dropped in its tracks. Exit wound the same size as the entrance wound. Very little kick.

I'd go with the .243.

To answer BELLE44 there is a BIG difference in recoil between the two.The 7mm kicks like hell.I own both.

I shoot 7mm-08 from my trusty Browning Lever Rifle with a 140 grain Ballistic Tip. The exit wound is not too bad on a neck shot which is 100% lethal. The exit wound on a vital area shot is pretty large with the Ballistic Tip.
Like the man said I have never noticed the sound when I'm shooting a deer( concentrating on the shot to hard guess). At the range I wear ear plugs.
I've mashed 'em from 10yds. to 240yds. with this gun-no problem.

try this one in the gun forum.