I have a 243 788 and Ruger American in 350 legend that my kids shoot. Both took first deer at age 10 with the legend. It is pretty much perfect in my experience with kids no kick muzzle blast way less than 243 and with good 170gn bullets it gives better performance on big deer inside 150yds than 243 from what I’ve seen. Only way I’d go 243 is if I had to have them shoot past 150.