I shot eight mule deer last fall and these are big deer. I shot two with the 30-06, two with the 308 and four with the 25-06. Its all in the location because the two I shot with the 30-06 ran the most distant. Thats no fault of the 30-06 because I know its a great big game killer. I am one of its biggest supporters but the shots were not quite as well placed this time. I have had good performance with the 7mm-08 and 308 as well. In fact of all the rifles I have used, I get the most drop in their tracks with the 308 and 6.5x55. I think I just shoot those two guns better than I do most of my other guns. One is a Mauser the other a Browning A-Bolt. These two rifles have by far the best triggers that I own. The Mauser has a Timney and the Browning a well adjusted factory trigger adjusted by a friend of mine. Its almost to light.