The .308 is fine for deer and also fine for elk and other big game.

The advent of a lot of new premium bullets just makes it even better as the advantage the .30-06 had over it was it's ability to handle larger bullets is now a very minor advantage.

It's not a back seat driver to any .30 cal IMO for big game and that includes African plains game.

For deer buy a box of 150 grain corelokts or power points or even sure shocks and go hunting. If you reload the Hornady interlocks are as good as it gets and as good as is needed for deer,

If one is hunting something much larger the 165 grain bullets in the North Fork, TBBC, SAF, Barnes is all that's needed.

You're not a second class citizen with a .308 Winchester and you can sit around a campfire with the guys with their .300 RUMs and know that their advantage is largely emotional and hot air.