re: If you could build the perfect deer rifle

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Seems like those things would have horrible recoil.

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Recoil is real, but it's manageable. Unlike rifles, when one of these guns recoil, it doesn't slap your face or jolt your shoulder; it recoils some backwards and the muzzle flips up. With the gun pictured, a 7-08, the muzzle flips about 45 deg or so. W/ a rifle action, 14-16" barrel, scope and rings/base, these guns are heavier than revolvers or semi-autos; the additional weight tames the recoil considerably. One gets accustomed to the recoil. Muzzle blast can be a problem, especially for shooters not wearing muffs.

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How far are you confident shooting a deer with that thing?

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The deer in the pic was shot at 125 yds. The main factor w/ long shots is being able to get set up for the shot. On a handgun only antelope hunt I once killed a buck at 225 yds and a doe at 275 yds; both were one shot kills. I once hit a mule deer at 325 yds (unfortunately, it made a step as I shot, resulting in a gut shot; I sneaked up to it at 175 yds and put it down.) All those shots were made w/ a solid rest over a bipod, backpack, etc. Nowdays, most of my hunting is from tower stands. I rest the guns on a sand bag on the window sill or my back pack. This type of hunting is definitely challenging.