My kids shoot the following and have routinely taken game from 100-300 yards. Coyotes to Elk.
16.25" Ruger Compact .243
16.25" Ruger Frontier 7mm-08
18.5" Remington 700 .243
I don't see the velocity loss as an issue within typical ranges, even on bigger game. I will say that I had a Ruger Compact in 7mm-08 identical to the .243 in the pic and it was a jumpy miserable SOB to shoot. The Frontier has a much heavier barrel and is very pleasant with a warm 140 grain accubond load.