I have hunted goats 3 time all with a 300win and rum ,love the wind bucking of the heavy 180gr. ball.I would say any flat shooting cal. would be fine.I would use the money to buy glass ,as in spotting scope,better bi nocks and or a range finder.You will be using those much more then the gun.Where we hunt in NE.wyoming 95 out of 100 kill the other 5 most likely ran out of shells.