Reacher,

Try going to a lighter bullet, a 125 or 150 will do the job on whitetails. I' ve been shooting a 30-06 since l972 and love it. Currently using a Ruger Model 77. I went to Colorado this year mule deer hunting and handloaded several boxes of 165 gr bullets for practice and the hunt. I believe the 150 would have done just as good a job on the mule deer. Winchester and Federal offer both the 125 and 150' s.

I also have a Wtby Vgd and it' s in the 300 win. mag., kicks like a horse, thats' s why I took the 30-06 to Colorado. I also took a Rem. Model 7 in 7mm-08 in case something happened to the 06, it to is a good whitetail rifle and caliber.

Dog1