I see a lot of people recommending a .243 with a 100gr bullet. That .243 in a 7.5 lb rifle gives 11 ft-lbs of recoil energy.
My 7mm-08 with 120gr bullets gives 12.1 ft-lbs of recoil energy and has the option of moving up to a 140gr bullet if later on you choose to hunt larger game.
When I shoot my Sako .243 side-by-side with my Tikka 7mm-08 from the bench, I can't tell the difference.
Of course, rifle weight and a good recoil pad make a LOT of difference!
