My favorite all around deer rifle is my Steyr Scout with a 2-7 Kahles scope with the TDS reticle. It shoots twice as accurately as the model 7 308 I had, and three times more accurately than the 260 Remington Model 7 I had. The short barrel is handy about not getting caught on branches banging on the roof of stands etc. The ching sling is helpfull for precision field shooting. The finish is weatherproof. Hidden compartment holds handy cleaing kit etc.
If a scout is a bit pricey try another short handy rifle if your shots usually will be 200yds in and maybe 300. If your shots are usually 200 and up you should try a higher velocity round and a longer more stable rifle.
You should consider a Kahles/Swarovski scope. For just a little bit more I find Kahles/Swarovski worth every penny. I've been through 17-18 leupolds of all magnifications and though good there is better now available. The last few times I've hunted without a TDS retical I missed it.
The caliber is probably the least important. I think anything 260 rem and up is good.

your deffinition of just a little more is just alittle more than alot of people want to spend on a scope. i have never heard one complaint about a leupold vx 2 or 3 and in most cases they are hundreds less than europeon makers JMHO though

I cannot imagine a more perfect deer chambering than 6.5 Swede. Mine is a Turkish 1903 action with a Swedish M38 military barrel. Barrel length 21.5, Elite 3200 3x9x50 scope. I use 140 grain Sierra Game Kings over 42 grains of Reloader 15, and I do not think anyone can convince me they have a better rifle for any sized whitetails.

No such thing as a perfect whitetail rifle, as the whitetail live about everywhere in the USA and canada from swamp to high mountains...

For West Texas a .270 or 300 H&H would be my pick, for East Texas I would chose the 30-30, for Idaho I like a 308 or 7x57 and even know a couple of holes where I always drag out my trusty 25-35 Win...

A whitetail rifle has more to do with where you hunt than anything else, but then that applies to most species, caliber is never as important as it seems on any game...

Hi Mr. Atkinson-I certainly do not want to get in an argument with a man of your experience, but I really do not see a single thing offered in your multi gun response that a 6.5 Swede loaded with 100-160 grain bullets would not do as well or better. In a single rifle as well! Indeed I see it as the almost perfect rifle for any North Ametican game from prairie dogs, to goats, to mule deer, even elk would not be much of a stretch as countless caribou are taken with it yearly. I only see only large pigs, bear, and moose really calling for a profoundly larger bore rifle.

Just my $02, and again I certainly mean no disrespect of your opinions.

befus - the scandinavians kill a lot of moose (they call them elk) every year with the 6.5x55mm. seems to me that it is one of the more versatile chamberings out there! as for pigs, i would guess that the awesome penetration properties of the 6.5 would make it a true performer on that game as well.



bear? blackies for sure. as for grizzlies....i guess that depends on how big your cojones are. i know that i would be a little nervous....



(added later)i don't have the actual ballistics in front of me, but my strong guess is that everything said about the 6.5x55mm also applies to the .260 remington, and possibly also to the .6.5x54ms.(added later)

I have a Remington Classic in 6.5x55 and use it for moose here in Canada. It does a great job of putting old bullwinkle down for the count. I'm sure it would do equally well on deer. Seeing as how many Americans have an aversion toward metric calibers, you might find the .260Rem. more to your liking, or even the 7mm/08. There are currently a lot of good choices out there. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Just get ya a 280 remmy, 139 gr. hornady sst's and hunt'em them wtails all over N. America.

Cal
When did under 30 calibers become legal for moose in Quebec?

I find that hard to believe also. A 270-284 cal w/ better than a 150 grner of well construction should be plenty. It is more than enough for Elk.

Reloader

Forgot to mention that the 7mm Rem Mag is an excellent choice for whitetails. W/ Balistic tips They usually dont make it out of their tracks. I did have a 240 pounder go 25 yards. Dang, that was a long tracking job.

Reloader

I have an old Remington 600 in .308. Very much like your Model 7. The 600 is very light, shoots very accurately (less than 1" at 100 yards--- if I do my part) and is short and handy!!

I've harvested my share of whitetails, all with the good old 30.06. When I was younger I hunted with an 03a3 that grandpa said was too heavy for him to carry in the woods any longer, so I got it. Now I hunt whitetails with a 1964 SEARS & ROEBUCK (made by Winchester for Sears) that my father gave up on. I reworked the gun and have it shooting 3/4 inch at 100 yds with my 180 g handloads. Most of the whitetails I've shot do not go more than 40 yds and 75% just drop in their tracks. Maybe it's shot placement. Two years ago in Manitoba I harvested a huge 8pt that field dressed just under 300 lbs. It took 2leaps and flipped. In my experience Whitetails are not that difficult to kill. I won't fix what ain't broke!!!!!

Befus,
Since you base your post on my experience, I agree the 6.5 will do anything any of the calibers I listed will do albiet it is perhaps somewhat of a compromise as it will not do some things as well as the calibers I named, but thats neither here nor there...I simply stated the calibers I personally preferred under certain circumstances, never claimed them to be the last word in correctness, just my personal choices. I don't believe in the one gun concept and prefer the right tool for the job at hand, but if I was regulated to one gun the 6.5 x 55 would suit me fine also..I am not into calibers as I am into proper shot placement and good bullets.