I will be doing my hunting this year with the 257 Roberts. Our area is dominated by big mule deer. I have to send my new 280 back to NEF for a trigger job. I will have my 22-250 along for some coyote hunting and I would not hesitate to whack a deer with that if it was the only gun I had with me at the time. I have droped several deer in thier tracks with the 22-250 with Nosler 60 grain Partitions. I would however not put myself in that position on purpose. I will take along the old trusty 6.5x55 which I think may just be one of the best deer rifles around. I will be hunting for about two weeks in different types of cover and terrain.