The perfect deer cartridge? No such thing! Oh, there's a lot of good ones including such
as 257Roberts, 6.5x55, 270Win., 7x57, 280Rem., 7mm-08, 308Win., 30-06, 30/30, the
45/70, etc., etc. All are good for deer hunting.
The real problem is in finding the perfect deer rifle! That combination of factors such as
type of action, barrel length, LOP, balance, etc. that just seems to "fit" ya' like it was
custom built just for you - AND available in a cartridge that suits ya'.
Then too, what really messes things up is when we try to figure in other applications such
as hogs, black bear, an occassional elk, etc. To do it right, you have to pick a cartridge
with enough ooomph to take care of the largest and/or most dangerous critter.
Then too, where will we be hunting, terrain? Weather conditions to be encountered?

Firstshots' choice for deer is a good one, but may not suit someone else's tastes in rifles, etc. I got mine narrowed down to three:
Ruger 77 carbine in 358Win. for close cover(? - up to 200yds), and anything from deer to the elk/moose.
Rem.700LSS Mtn. rifle in 270Win. for the more open spaces (out to 300yds.+/-).
Sako Mannlicher carbine in 308Win. - for when I don't know what the heck I'm going to
encounter, and when I just can't make up my mind

But, no matter, I still miss having a Marlin 30/30, and for some reason I have an itch to
get a 6.5x55 and a 280Rem. []