Im A Big guy, I can pretty much handle any caliber rifle. I shoot a Ruger 243. When it comes to deer I dont want the biggest and baddest, I wanna know that my placement of that bullet matters the most.300 Win Mags and 45-70's(although I do use 45-70 single shotfor primitive cause its legal in mississippi)just do to much damage to the animal, and you can just about hit a deer anywhere but in the foot and kill it.