For a good many years, I thought the 243 was a poor choice for deer. Then I realized that I was judging it on the people using it, not on the cartridge itself. Too often a 243 is the choice of a beginner, who often has trouble hitting the right spot, which results in either a wounded deer, or a lost one. In the hands of someone who knows what they're doing, it's as good a choice as a 257 Roberts or a 250 Savage. I like a bullet of at least 90 grains, preferably heavier for deer. I've not killed as many deer with as most of claim, but I've killed enough to know it will do the job very nicely.
Loaded with bullets between 55-75 grains, it's a coyote killer supreme. I shoot the 58 grain VMax at about 3775, and it's better than anything my 22-250 spits out.
