I'm not sure what my ideal whitetail rifle is. I have several. I only get to hunt a couple days with rifle each year, hunt much more with muzzleloader and bow.
I am currently grab my 300 win mag...it's a sako bavarian with a varipoint 2.5-10x42 scope. It's a great setup. I never have to track a deer. But it is probably too much gun for a whitetail. I have used reduced recoil loads to reduce meat damage. A regular round does a lot of damage....even on a heart lung shot there will be massive clotting in the shoulder on exit side.
If get a custom build it will be in 30-06. Maybe smaller.
