The off shoulder is the best option if you practice. Also a 243 is a great deer caliber but, and this is just my opinion, not with 100 gr bullets. Go with a lighter bullet that holds together & you will do just fine. My bullet of choice when I used rifles was the Sierra 85 gr flat base, not the boat tail! And yes it handles deer easily, trust me.
Your second choice & my first choice would be a revolver, one that you can handle, don't over gun yourself because your "buddy" can shoot a big bore, shoot what you are comfortable with & you'll eat backstraps for supper, just like I am tonight. These were taken on depredation tags last week, the deer with a 41 magnum at 42 yds & the antelope with a 327 magnum at 73 yds.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Dick

Last edited by Idaho1945; 08/28/18.