.308 win. just ask Milo.

I my self am 16 and I support one of the new .270 WSM's it's a hot little round I've taken a couple white tails with it and works just fine. But before this I had a .270 Win and did better with it as I also took a couple of deer and an elk with it. These smaller bullets really do the job for any deer sized game.

You can have a look at the ballistics and recoil of all these different cartridges yourself using these websites:

http://www.remington.com/ammo/ballistics/ballistics.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

I don't have a lot of shooting experience, but I want to buy a rifle for the wife who is concerned about recoil and not developing a flinch. Just from these tables I think the 7mm-08 is a likely candidate. That being said, I sure would like to shoot and compare some of these.

Good luck

I personaly started hunting deer with a remington 7mm mag but found it overkill and did some meat damage on less than perfect shots. Since moving to my tikka t3 synthetic stainless .270WSM I am overjoyed. there is no meat damage and the long flat trajectory makes it almost ideal. Also there is little recoil compared to the 7mm. Just my opinion take it for what you will. good luck and may your freezer be full

all 30 cal guns have the hittin power for thier own species of big game. depends on the hunter also

Well said:

I'm more concerned about a bullet's size, type of construction, and downgange energy than I am with choice of caliber. With that said, the versatile 30-06 pretty much covers the bases for all North American game.

One should be far more concerned with accuracy and choice of bullet before worrying about which caliber.

See my signature below.

P.S.:

To answer an earlier question about recoil sensative hunters, I suggest shooting Reduced Recoil loads in a 270 Win or standard 7mm-08 ammo.

Put a Limbsaver Recoil Pad on the stock and practice with the Reduced Recoil Ammo - substituting regular ammo (like 130-gr. 270 Win bullets) for hunting in the field where one will never know the difference.

i say suck it up princess!

Shoot a 270 for deer, cant be beat. I use mine for whitetails and moose, Works like a charm. Its all on your shoulders man BUt 308 or 270 are both common and well used for a reason.