I bought the 243 WSSM for my girls when they were 8 & 9 after passing their hunters safety, they were too small for anything else really and I gave this gun a try. WOW, they have both taken muley bucks, antelope bucks and they have 3 bull elk between them. All taken with the 243 WSSM. Only one fo the above animals required more than one shot, a bull that she hit in the hind quarters then center punched him for the finish. The hind quarter shot punched thru both hips and he wasn't going far. The ammo is difficult to find and very pricey but it does the job. Too expensive for me to use on dogs.