I've been looking into getting a carbine type rifle for deer hunting. Does anybody have experience or an opinion of the .243 in 18.5" or 20: barrel lengths? (California deer typically run around 125 lbs.)

I've been using 243's since 1972...in all barrel lengths up to 26" and down to 18.5. Handload Sierra's 85gr BTSP with goodly portion of I4350. Shot everything from gophers to elk. Lot of deer 'n antelope. As with anything you must place your bullet well on the larger game. prairie poodles just vaporize.

7/08 gives you a way better bullet selection. I shoot a 10" Lone Eagle in 243 it is very accurate with the Sierras mentioned but I never shot a deer with it. J.Michael

One of my favorite rifles is a Ruger Ultra Light 20 incher in .243, use 95 gr BT's over a max load of H4350, nothing but one shot drops with it so far. Have used it on deer, exotics and a nice pronghorn in 07', works really well.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

One shot kills very accurate. Can't even count the number of groundhogs that rifle accounted for. I used to have 40 rds of brass....would have to come back to the loading table a lot to reload 'em. I then got a 77 Ruger, then a heavy barrel Rem 700. The best one that I'm really attached to is the Ruger #1B. Never had any problems that other folks say they had with the #1....it'll do one hole groups at 100 yds if the shooter can manage it.

Not meanin' to hijack Drago's thread, but it brought up a question I have thought of several times. Does anyone make a full-length (Mannlicher) type aftermarket stock in synthetic? I have always liked the looks of the full length stock, but wood is devilish hard to stabilize here in the humid southeast. A short, light .243 with a synthetic full stock and an aperture or a low-powered scope would be the bee's knees for around here. Never seen or heard of such a stock, though.