Sorry to controdict everyone, but if the shot placement is their, the deer will come down. I, personally, shoot mainly a .22-250 at most of my deer. If you have good confidence in that rifle and get a good shot, either in the neck or quartering away (tuck it extrmely close to the should and split the heart), the 22 cal will drop a good deer in his tracks. However, if you can afford it, i'd probably pick up an affordable (700 ADL or savage) in a little heavier caliber such as .243, .25-06, .260, .270 and so on.