You really can't go wrong with the .30/'06, but I used a 7X57mm for all my hunting when I lived in Texas. It was a Ruger No. 1A. You really can't go wrong with a Ruger 1A either, and they come in .30/'06, .270, 7X57mm, and .243. The .243 is a nice deer load, but I'd want to shoot heavier bullets at hogs!