It's the gun itself more than the cartridge for me. I have several that have not been christened but I like to shoot, so not sure if they will be a new favorite. It's plain Jane but I would not want to be without an 06 for deer hunting. If I was advising a new hunter though for a deer cartridge for most hunting ranges, it would be a 7-08. The one I owned is gone now and only got one deer with it but I think it's a nice balance of power, bullet weight, and low recoil.
