While there are many good to great cartridges, the .243 is one of the great ones.
I have been in love with the 243 since the late 50s.
A friend who reloaded, handed me his Winchester model 70 with a Leupold 4X and dot, AND an old canvas bag of loaded ammo.
Now that is the way to impress a kid!!!!!
Other then .22s which came in boxes of 50, everything I knew about came in 20 counts. WOW, a bag of ammo.
Sat down on the back steps of the house - we lived 7 miles from the nearest house - and started shooting at rocks up on the ridge. Bang POP. Dot on the rock, pull the trigger hit the rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bang POP.
If you reload, and providing your rifle will shoot the tiny bullets, the .243 will equal or better the great 22/250.
The first time I have seen 4000fps from one of my rifles was this past Fall. Shooting 55gr Nosler Balistic Tips from my old 22" RUGER "Flat Bolt".
With the 95 - 100gr. Nosler Partition, it is a good deer rifle within reasonable ranges.
Love the .243!
Keep em coming!
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot