No doubt between the two 243! However, if you're recoil sensitive, you might want to look at the Rem 260 cal. It will shoot a 140gr bullet for deer very well at good speeds. The kick is very much like the 243. In the recoil department the 30-06 is about 1-1/2 times greater felt recoil than either the 243 or the 260. Remember I said felt recoil, I know someone will pull the stats on lbs of actual recoil. I think my Weatherby's pound the worse of anything I've ever shot, including 12 ga 3-1/2" heavy goose loads. When an deer is hit in the right place, there's no difference between a 243, 30-30,30-06 ect ect. this is just fact. I hope that i don't hear that old line about a 30-06 can go through brush better that a smaller bullet. The best rifle is the one that shoots straight, you have high confidence in it, and is legal to use. This allows in a whole bunch of rifles suited to their owners.