I’d be more concerned with the rifle’s twist rate than the make of the rifle. If you want to shoot heavier conventional or copper bullets most appropriate for deer, a 1 in 9 or faster twist would be required. Most bolt action 22 caliber bolt action rifles that I’ve seen had slow twist varmint barrels. For the price of a new BDL, you could get a match ar that would shoot with a quality bolt gun.
Based on the number of “Made a perfect hit but I need a dog” threads I see on here each year, the “real calibers”, as you call them, aren’t idiot prof either. A .22-250, .223, .243 are all plenty capable of killing a deer and I have seen plenty fall to each. I know an older guy that hunts almost exclusively with a .22-250 on primarily open fields or food plots and I am not aware of one he has shot with it that he has lost. I know another guy that looses deer it seems every year and he shoots “real calibers.” If you want one gun to hunt all situations, I would agree that a .223 is probably not the best choice. However, I no doubt think shot placement is the key regardless. You give me a capable guy who will wait on the proper shot with a .223 and I will take him every day of the week over buck fever Billy with a 7mag. If he wants to get one to hunt food plots or whatever, I don’t see an issue. If you are going to be hunting in the middle of a swamp or clearcut thicket, then I agree a “real caliber” is probably a better choice if you need it down quickly. It is common sense, which isn’t so common anymore.
