Gonna give the .243 a go

[redleg11b]

Nobody wanted to give me a fair price anywhere so I'm just gonna use it.  Put a 2.5x scope on it and got my groups centered and about 2.5".  I think that's pretty good considering the magnification.  Expected shots for deer will be under 75 yards where I plan to spend my limited amount of time, with 125 being the longest I should encounter.  If I score, I'll share some pics.

[yukondog]

Good luck to ya red.

[Squib]

2.5'' at what distance and supported or not? 

I'm using an almost max charge of IMR-3031 behind a sierra 70gr blitzking for head/neck shots this year.  It beats moa just a bit, and zeroed at 50yds it doesn't go up or down much from 25yds to 220yds.  it's a up or down one inch withing two hundred gun (unless the animal is within 20yds, then it's 1 1/2" low, but when are they that close?).

good luck from me as well.

[cwlongshot]

The 243 is a good performer with the correct bullets!
That 2.5X scope is likely trim and small nice and "handi"
 
Squib,
 Conventional lead and copper deer bullets START at 90 Gr's. but 70 gr  BLITZ KINGS are varmint bullets plain and simple. They will produce horrifying shallow wounds... Miss your mark by even a bit and your not bringing home the venison and your subjecting that animal to a slow painful death. You will need all the "luck" you can get...
 
CW

[ratdog]

been shooting the 243 for 30 years shoot 87grn boat tail hollow points shot over 35 mules with it one shot kill my boy uses the 100 grner's  on elk with no problems the 243 is very effective .a little hard on yotes though really messes them up.shot a antelope at 350 yards last year. one shot .traded a 30-06 for it 30 years ago nice interarms could not get it group very good later i relized it was the cheap tasco scope. i steal like the 30-06 though got a handi now that will shoot better than me.

[redleg11b]

Squib, 100 yards from sitting position. Target was red/white triangle.  I might do better on a black circle, but deer don't wear them so I wanted a target that was similarly difficult to focus on.

[Squib]

The 243 is a good performer with the correct bullets!
That 2.5X scope is likely trim and small nice and "handi"
 
Squib,
 Conventional lead and copper deer bullets START at 90 Gr's. but 70 gr  BLITZ KINGS are varmint bullets plain and simple. They will produce horrifying shallow wounds... Miss your mark by even a bit and your not bringing home the venison and your subjecting that animal to a slow painful death. You will need all the "luck" you can get...
 
CW

head and neck shots within 50yds in semi-swamp land where I cannot even see much further, let alone shoot.  no luck needed.  shots that aren't right from any caliber cause a slow death by the way.