I have shot a buck with my .243 and the bullet whistled right through the rib cage area without striking bone and left a pencil hole going in and coming out. The buck stood still like a statue! I fired again and all of the deer took off. I watched the buck drop and when I walked up to it, I didn't notice any blood trail. Filled the lungs up and died with zero bullet expansion.
The next deer I shot took out a rib. It looked like I shot it with a .300 magnum!
Quite a capable caliber with good shot placement.