In my opinion fit of the rifle to the shooter is much more important than caliber. Within reason, cartridge doesn’t matter.
Also, I want an optical sight. I am a big fan of, have and have used receiver sighted rifles all my life, but nothing is faster than a 1 power scope, properly set up, with coarse crosswires.
When I next go walking the woods after deer it will be with my Guide Gun with 1-4, my 99 in .303 with a tang sight, or my ( original type) Ruger 44 carbine with a red dot of some sort. All have proven their utility in such circumstances to my satisfaction repeatedly.
