Yes a .30-05 will kill deer in the Catskills as well as the Dacks if you ever go there. Use of a semi-automatic by someone who isn't exeprienced and deliberate is dangerous, deer don't necessarily fall down when you pull the trigger. I'd use on of the standard bullets like the Winchester Power Point or Remington Corelokt. I think the 3x9 is a bit oversized, the 742 is heavy enough, but it is your rifle, and the combination will work anywhere you go on the continent, excpet PA, they don't allow self loaders.