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I have a couple of grandkids coming up, and debated and thought considerably about a 243 for them. In the end, I decided that it's probably quite satisfactory for deer, if you use the right bullet.
Standard Speer, Hornady, and Sierra bullets do very poorly when the impact speed is above 2800 fps or below 2100 fps. Anywhere in that range, barring a major bone hit, they will make a remarkably constant 14" long wound channel
With a 243, it is very easy to have impact speeds higher than 2800 fps. Above 2800, the wound channel is significantly SHORTER, and it gets WORSE as impact speed goes UP. The Partition provides a pretty constant 16" wound channel, from 1700 fps to as fast as you want to go.
My theory--yet to be tested--is that if you load 95 or 100 grain Partitions, the 243 is a probably a reliable deer gun, even for big western mulies. If you shoot standard bullets, or ballistic tips, especially in the lighter weights, it's probably not going to be nearly as reliable, though it will probably work most of the time.
One thing I will defend for sure: Anything the 223 can do, the 243 can do. The reverse is not true.
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