Yes, nothing wrong with the 243. I've got two 6.5 Grendel's and four 6.5 Creedmoor rifles so that's why I'm leaning that way.
I have a slick little rifle called a maple ridge renegade with a 12 1/2 inch barrel. It's a straight pull and over 26 inches so it's nonrestricted here in Canada and you can hunt with it. It uses AR parts and furniture so I think that may be the first rifle my boys hunt with due to the adjustable length of pull, short length, and light weight - I think it's 6 lbs something all in? I've got an upper in 223 and 6.5 Grendel that I can swap back-and-forth.
They really like it, my sig Cross, and my Tikka Compact. The length of pull doesn't adjust as short on the Sig cross or the Tikka though.