>>375363Now, speaking from personal opinion, I think you could do a little better.
I like the .223 and believe it to be a perfectly capable cartridge, but for mule deer I think it's a little anemic if you're after a human quick kill. Also, like the other anon said many states won't allow anything under 6mm for hunting large game.
If I were you, I'd get a CZ527 carbine in 7.62x39. Plenty of ammunition choices, fudds have been shooting deer with SKS for years (not to mention .30-30 rifles, which have nearly identical ballistics), and it's a really handy, lightweight, and accurate little rifle. I lvoe mine.
