I still use my 788 in 243 for deer and antelope. Bought used in 1984 from the local gunsmith with the first money I made working at a grocery store. Over the years I upgraded the scope from fixed 4x to 3-9x, refinished the metal with bead blast, epoxy bedded the lug, and kept on killing stuff. Still shoots 1-1.5" groups all day.Not for deer but my coyote rifle is a Remington 788 in .223, still hammers