I shoot a 243 WSSM. I've killed my two coues and one mule with it. It has the knockdown power it takes to drop any buck, but has very very little recoil (almost none). As for range, all of my deer have been shot at under 200 yards. But at the range I've been able to easily hit targets from 500 yards away without dropping at all. The bullet is about 100 grain I believe, and it is FAST. I have a 4x12 leupold scope on it. It is perfect for those under 300 yard shots with those coues on the run.