I like the 30-30. It's awesome up close. I've never had a deer run off after being hit with it inside 75 yards. They've all dropped in their tracks.

If you find a Savage 99, the .243 is a great deer caliber also in that rifle.

I personally like the Marlin's over the Winchesters. Especially if you want to put a scope on it. I'm kind of wanting Marlin's latest version in stainless steel/wood combo. For some reason that just looks trick to me.