If you have no caliber restrictions I think either the 7-30 Waters or 30-30 would be my choice. I had a standard TC Hunter(muzzle brake) 30-30 handgun barrel that shot very well. A Waters with 120gr Ballistic Tips would seem to be a great lightweight deer rifle. I have fired a Contender Carbine in 375JDJ that shot very well but the recoil was a bit sharp and in my opinion, more bullet that really needed for deer.
I used to have some friends that played with a lot of Contender and Encore rifles and handguns (mostly handguns) and they tried easily a dozen different barrels and chamberings from TC Custom Shop, Bullberry, EABrown, SSK and MGM/Virgin Valley (VV was their original name). Chambers included 17 Mach IV, 20PPC, 222, 223,6PPC, 6BR, 30BR, 30-30, 357Max, 41Mag and 44Mag. Our experience with MGM barrels was fantastic and they are my first choice.
