Wife shoots a 243 and has always filled her tag. Her first deer she dropped at 300 yards, thing didn't take one step. Furthermore, I have a friend who shot a 243 for years, some other guy talked him into the bigger is better theory and he bought a 30-06. After a few years he went back to the 243 because he was comfortable with it. Also, practice, practice, practice. I was always the guy who took the guns out a week before season opened just make sure they were sighted in and went hunting. Missed a few really nice bucks and decided to start shooting a little more during the year, haven't missed for some time now.