RE: Favorite caliber and why
My favorite deer caliber is the 257 Roberts. Light on recoil and with 115-120 gr bullets is plenty of caliber for deer. I handload this caliber and trajectory is flat enough for 300 yard shots. That is if the Rifleman is capable of shooting at that distance.
My second pick is the 280 Remington. Manageable recoil for the average shooter and a very flat trajectory with 140 gr. bullets. I have also loaded this caliber with 175 gr. Nosler Partition's and have had good success on elk and large feral hogs.