Hot rod, eddywitay
Lots of guys are trying to talk you out of a hot rod, you sound like a varmint hunter.
I have had many 243 AI's and it is easy to get a 70g nosler ballistic tip to 3800-3850 fps with a 29-30" tube using Win 760, 12" twist.
With the 244 AI, 14" twist, the 70's will be in their accuracy node at 4150 fps with win 760 and Fed 210 primers, thow in a 75g V max at a minimum of 4050 fps and you are talking some flat shooting wind bucking.
When you go to the heavier bullets, animals just do not blow up...lots of crawlers.
Just how far are you wanting to shoot?
Another thing, for the 6/284 and the 244 AI, the long action is better unless you are willing to single load.
I have both of the 243 AI and 244 AI reamers set up for zero freebore. You do not fill up the case with powder in either case, so suff the bullet down in the case. By eliminating most if not all of the freebore, you will increase the barrel life significantly. Also, if you use Win 760 you will increase the barrel life over a stick powder(partner and I used to shoot 24,000-26,000 rounds a year).
Fact of life, a 70g Nosler at 3850 will copper foul less than a 85g Sierra at 3550 out of a 243 AI due to less bearing surface.
We used the 243 AI's with zero freebore in target rich environments where p. dogs were thick as fleas. We dumped out a box of 50 and fired extremely fast, cleaned every 125 rounds. Throat growth was 0.080 to 0.120 for every 1700 rounds fired. If you use stick powder, growth is more. If you use heavier bullets, growth is more...greater Heat/Pressue/Time.
If you want to see chucks detonate, then use a 75g V max out of a 244 AI...they look like paint balls exploding....nothing left to crawl off....just a gut rug left!