I recently semi-retired almost all my rifles in big game category to use the Browning A-Bolt 30-06 my brother from another mother gave me almost exclusively. I have worked up 2 loads for it that I feel will cover more than anything I'm ever going to shoot at. The 1st load is Nosler 150 gr Ballistic Tips for up to & including deer. The 2nd is for deer and up to & including elk moose, bear, etc and it's loaded with 180 gr Nosler Accubonds. I do have an exquisitely accurate bull barreled AR for use on yotes. I've been able to shoot a all time best (for ME) of 3 out of a pack with the AR. If I was going to set up a rifle for whitetail only, it of course would be built extremely light weight on a Browning A-Bolt action, chambered in 7mm08, and weigh around 6-5.5# ready to go! If I was setting up a rifle for bigger stuff only, it would be chambered in 35 Whelen.