In the state where I hunt, the 223 and larger including the 22-250 are legal deer rifles. I know quite a few good hunters who use them including my brother in law. Most of these guys live on ranches and can hunt every day of the season. They can pick and choose thier shots or pass until another day. For these kinds of hunters I think the 22-250 with good bullets like the Nosler Partition and Barnes X bullets as well as the 70 grain Speer semi-spitzer, is suitable. For someone who will take any shot regardless of range or conditions, No its not a deer rifle. I will be carring mine as a back-up and coyote gun this year. I would not hesitate to take a 100 yard shot at a deer with it if the condition presents itself. It would be a head or neck shot or a clean miss. I have Nosler 60 grain partitions and Speer 70 grainers loaded just in case. The 70 grains are loaded to 3330 fps and the Noslers to 3400 fps.