I say shoot whatever you are comfortable with. The problem I see is guys buying magnums to compensate for marginal shooting ability, but the flinch they develope deteriorates their shooting further. For deer sized game, why does the 300 Win Mag or 7mm have to be the gun of choice? I have a 257 Weatherby Mag that is pleasant to shoot (although not on the wallet), and I don't think anyone will disparage the ballistics on that one. I reserve it for hunts out West, as most of my shots are within 50 yards at home, and my 30-30 or 30-06 do just fine. Shoot whatever you are willing to put the range time in on. (And I do work with a fellow who hunts elk with a 300 RUM, and he is the best marksman I know, capable of killing elk out to 700 yards. I would never tell him he was over-gunned. Unfortunately, some are.)