I've taken most of my deer with a ML so the only deer I've shot with a rifle have been a 300WM. Sure, it puts them down RIGHT NOW but so would an RPG. The meat damage is unacceptable, especially on a shoulder shot. If I had a dedicated deer rifle it would be a 243 or othe 6mm variant for longer range work; for 150 yds and other if I had to choose a rifle and not a ML it would probably be larger caliber but lower velocity.