I have to say that my experience with the .243 more aligns with Craig and Earl.
I’ve lost more deer with the .243 than any other cartridge. But for some reason I keep trying it. I enjoy shooting it. Modest recoil, less expensive bullets. Impeccable accuracy. Modest costs to reload.
This year I shot the 2nd largest racked deer I’ve ever taken, using the .243. A single shot. But it wasn’t clean. I broke the animals neck at the base of the shoulder. It writhed on the ground for several minutes, but expired before I could get to it. I really like the rifle, however. (Marlin X7S).
My theory is that I’m over driving the bullets. Most here reporting good results are running 100’s @2,700-2,850mv and impact speeds of 2,200-2,500fps. I’m running them in excess of 3,000fps to 3,100. Most of my failures have been well hit deer running off, with minimal blood trails. Close shots, to heart-lungs. (25-50yds).
The buck I shot this year stopped the slug and left practically no blood. (Lased 147yds).(Though internal hemorrhaging was substantial.) recovered, the 100gr Sierra ProHunter weighed 51.5gr. Small, balled up mushroom, just under The far hide.
Furthermore, myself and others have observed deer shot beyond 250yds where the bullets fail to expand adequately and likewise little blood trail results in loss. (Depredation/population control on airports).
I’ve taken over 100 deer with a .257Roberts. With 115-120gr bullets, it’s noticeably better than the .243, but I concede that the 7mm08 is better yet. I’ve lost enough deer with a 6.5 (Creed and .260Rem, all over 300yds) to have a negative opinion of it. -SD isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.- bullet integrity and controlled expansion are critical. Seems a man named Nosler designed a bullet around that notion...as well as others.
I concur...