Id say go with a 22-250 or a 223 WSSM loaded with a 60 grain nosler partition, both of these have very little recoil perhaps just a tad more then a 223 rem but will have much better performance on deer. a .223 rem even with a good bullet like thenosler partition still requires almost expertly placed shots, the 22-250 and or 223 WSSM wont increase recoil much but deffinately increase your margin for error.