i've killed a few deer with my savage 7mag. i use the hornady 139gn btsp. if you hit them thru the ribs you are fine,but everyone i've shot with a quartering away shot has went down on impact but not without totally distroying the shoulder on the other side. the first doe i shot had no leg or shoulder ,blown off completly. i would say the 7mag is a little more gun then i will ever need for whitetail deer.