A 308 should be fine for deer. I bought my son a 30-06 Mossberg ATR 100 last summer. The gun only cost about $245.00 and I put a Nikon 3x9 scope on it. We get 1" to 1 1/2 " groups at 100 yrds. I am trying some new loads and the barrel isn't broken in yet. Overall good gun for the money.