i don't think i stated my reasoning yet, but i do mostly whitetail hunting, however I am hoping to go out elk hunting in a few years. Don't get me wrong my current round being the .308 i have had no problems dropping deer, but have had a few problems with getting pass thru shots on some of the larger deer i have shot. Including the th elarge doe I shot last Fri, I was letting the deer walk into the scope, but still pulled the trigger a hair early, bullet went in right in front of the near shoulder and lodged in the far shoulder, deer was slightly quartering toward me. dropped the deer in about 10 feet, though.