LSF, no I don't think the .308 is too much rifle for the smaller species of deer, as long as you tailor your load to suit the species. A light fast bullet will produce more meat damage and blood blistering than a big slow one will.
You might have a job getting your police authority to allow you one as your first deer rifle though, my lot would only allow me 6.5x55 for deer and fox as a first rifle.
I have bought a Parker-Hale M.81 Classic in .308 recently, it would pass the DSC1 shooting test with PPU 165gn SP's. I am sure I will make it shoot better with my home-loads. But wooden stocked traditional rifles are out of favour (especially in.270) at the moment, everyone wants plastic stocked, free floated, stainless steel barrelled rifles. The Parker-Hale rifles are built on a Mauser 98 action, regarded as one of the strongest and most reliable ever made, most seem to be pressure bedded not free floated and it is possible that your chosen rifle will have been well used. You might be lucky if you spend a bit of time looking round and find a good one, they are out there and even though Brit has cornered the market in them, I managed to find a good one!
Simon
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