It will do the job when you do yours.
My biggest deer, and the only one to grace my wall, was taken with a .243, 100 grain handload. I must admit though, that when taking large whitetails, those that dress out at 175 lbs or better, it would be very advisable to use a premium bullet.
The cartridge's famed low recoil definitely contributes to shooters being steady and holding still while shooting.

Great deer round but the key is a well placed shot.. I like mine cause it's just so much fun to shoot at the range. The kick is so gentle you can really bear down when shooting paper and if you have ever watched someone shooting to much gun at the range you know what I mean. Watching someone shooting a 300 Win Mag or something they really can't handle is a sight!!


Nothing worse than sighting in a gun your scared of..

You Dad says the .243 is plenty to kill a deer and has one it before...Listen to your Dad!

Tho I prefer my trusty .270, .243 is plenty of weapon for whitetail.

Got my very first deer with my grandfathers .243 17 years ago. It was a doe at 100yds with a perfect heart shot, she went maybe 50 yards. I couldn't tell you what grain bullet it was as i was 12 but whatever it was, the .243 did the job.

.243 has worked for me...

By my calculations, the score is running about 14 to 1 in favor of the .243.

Seems as though someone needs to re-think their opinion...

Dad knows best

make it 15 to 1. I like 100 gr sgk in mine.

Well that settles it, I will be useing the 243 this year. Thx for all the replies.
Doug Olwin

It'll work great for you. Just pick your shot... Let him turn broadside, and push the bullet in right behind the elbow... He won't go far.