For myself, I have two rifles that I use for hunting, and each has it's purposes IMHO.
For desert hunting, my 300WSM gets the nod.
Super flat shooter, plenty of punch out to significant distances (deer to 500, elk to 350, yotes to 900 though I won't shoot past 500), handloaded Nosler BT 168 grain and Combined Technology 168 grain BT.
My 308WIN is my closer in choice, for personal reasons.
I'm still working loads up for it, waiting for my Lapua brass to show up, before I start getting serious with it. For now, it's a 150 grain Remmy PSP I picked up cheap for plinking.

the both kill deer, the 243 might not drop it but it will die. i know people who hunt with a .223

1. .243 in the West,
2. .50 cal Muzzleloader in the East
3. 7mm Mag in Alaska (for the big brown furry creature that think bullets going of are dinner bells)

.270 in a Remington 130gr. corelock or Winchester silver tip also in a 130gr. Either usually drops them on the spot. That said, my 30-30 with a 170gr will do the same thing but my Remington 700 .270 gives me a little more range if I need it.

Mossberg 535 with rem sluggers when I dont have the bow with me, .308 150 grain core-lokt for big fields a couple of times a year.

M92,

Thanks.............do you think he's got it now.

& DDM reminds me - I use my Marlin 336 .35 Rem. levergun in thick cover (small or large deer in this case).

Sheridan, I would hope so. But some people just don't think about hunting other regions. Ah well, to each their own.

All around whitetail rifle...7MM08 with 120 Barnes TSX....

Open country whitetails and mulies....280 Rem with 140 Nosler BT........

i use a 264 win mag. an a 6.5/284, love those 26 cals

The 25/06-270-280 are all based on the 30/06 case. any one will due the job with no problem