i used a 30.-06 and i love it,2 out of the 3 bucks i have killed have dropped right there and they were shot over 100 yrds,i use 150 grain hornady custom bullets,all my family use hornady and we love them the best,i have a nikon buckmaster scope, 3 by 9,i have not had a deer run more than 50 yrds,i have shot 6 deer with it