Wow, amazing how complicated the most simple application can be made.....most of you are far more well-versed than I in gun knowledge BUT, would I be wrong in saying that, in order, the most whitetails have been killed by:
1) 30-30
2/3) .270 tied with 30-06


Anyone who says you need a caliber other than a .270 for ANY whitetail isn't thinking straight(except for the Maine thicket exception, which is why I have a .35 Marlin with open sights).

It has been well over 40 years since the 30-30 was the most popular caliber. So while a lot of deer have been killed with it we are killing a lot more deer now than we ever have.

I am a fan of the 30 caliber rifles. 30-06, 300 Winchester, 308, and 7.5x55 for stuff like whitetails.

My favorite eastern Texas deer rifle is a 44 magnum carbine.

I would go with the 7mm08. I use it to deer hunt in north Georgia with outstanding results.
I don't think that you can go wrong with the 260 either.