As far as lethality on deer, The last deer my father got dressed 225, One shot from his model 88 Winchester in .243 took out a hugh chunk of the deers spine. Dad was shooting uphill at a steep angle and as a result he shot high, offhand. Dad was a phenominal shot with rifle or handgun. He had to put his back against a tree to hold him while he shot. On those relatively small Texas deer that .243 will be a bang plop deal. Dads deer was shot in NH. woodlands.

El Lobo