Over the last 30 years I have used lots of different rifles for deer, antelope, and the occasional elk if I got lucky. Can't say I have ever had a BAD experience with any of them, these are just my experiences so don't get all defensive and crazy if my opinion differs from yours
My first deer was a big fat mule deer doe I shot near Cascade Montana. I used my Grandpa's Model 88 in .284 Winchester. Shot was about 250 yards. Right behind the front shoulder, down she went. A lot of the hunting magazines and gun writers talk bad about the Model 88, they often say it has a crappy trigger and mediocre accuracy. All I can say is that this gun has put a lot of meat in our freezer over the years and I have made some exceptional long range shots at antelope using it. Years ago my Dad had a friend load him up a couple hundred rounds for it and I am pretty sure they are all loaded with plain old Winchester Power-Points or something very similar, nothing fancy. Anyway, I like it a lot except that shells are hard to find and they are expensive. Never really been a problem though, Dad still has enough of those reloads he got to last at least the rest of his life
The next year I carried the gun my Dad got as a graduation present when he graduated. It is a pre-64 Model 70 Winchester in 30-06 Springfield. All I really have to say about the 30-06 is that it just plain gets the job done. A very useful caliber. Shells can still be had for $15 a box if you watch the sales and they are available anywhere. Dad has killed deer, elk, antelope, bear, moose, and a couple buffalo with it. It has the original iron sights on it and never had a scope mounted on it. Dad took it on a guided elk hunt a few years ago. When he pulled it out, I guess the guides were ribbing him about iron sights and gave him his Indian name “Old Iron Sightsâ€
Al