re: Best deer rifle, caliber, setup for whitetail?

Exactly. Just work on making the shot if you know there's a possibility you'll take it. I hunt a power line box stand when the time is right and it's an infinite shot in either direction. I learned early on (after two complete whiffs) that you better hone your craft if you want to touch one out to 3 and beyond.

So I worked on it. Shoot a Win Model 70 300 mag. Hornady 165 grains. Nikon Monarch 4x16x50. David Tubb firing pin, trigger work, etc. Gun is outstanding. And still...everything has to be on.

I keep an extra chair in my stands for two reasons...1) when I bring my lil dude and 2) to rest my right arm on when I'm airing it out.

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to rest my right arm on when I'm airing it out.

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I position my blind caddy cornered to my shooting lanes just so I will have somewhere to rest my right elbow or forearm. It's a must and makes you a much better shooter.

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missed two deer at approximately 300 yards this year with my .270.

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if you can't shoot a deer at 300 yards with a .270, you don't need to be shooting anything at 300 yards with any gun. HTH

You could add a 7mm-08 right around the .270 and .308, but the chart is useful to illustrate your most likely choices.

However, at 200-300 yds, there is going to be a negligible difference in the deer calibers.
At 600 yds, you would see a difference, but this is an unrealistic hunting situation.

The big 4 are the 270, 308, 30-06, and 7mag. And you already have one of them. The only suggestion I could give would to maybe get a flatter shooting, less kick, 7mm-08. May give you less flinch and shoot more accurately.

I personally use and prefer the 30-30, 30-06, and 7mag. But, I choose each one for different yet specific hunting setups. Close/brush/leaning stands (30-30), short to medium distance because of the scope I have mounted (30-06), and medium to long shots also because of the scope that's mounted (7mag).

My dad shoots a 270, and wife shoots a 308 and 243 wssm. There's little to no difference from mine, and I wouldn't be compelled to change calibers if I had one versus another.
I agree with what most have said. Spend money on a good scope, spend some time shooting more, and move your feeder closer.

Practice more, it's not the gun

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It isn't that confusing 

3-9 power 

30mm

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I seriously doubt that's what you have.

For those who say it's easy, going to a range and shooting at 300 yds is one thing. You have a good rest, you take your sweet time sand bagging your gun, you know the exact distance and the target isn't going anywhere. I've done it too. But it's a whole different thing when the target is a deer.

You might not have time to range the deer, if you even have the equipment to do that. Your rest is usually less than ideal. The stand may be moving with the wind. Your firing your first shot of the day with a cold barrel. And that's just some of the differences between range and field shooting.

When you shoot at 300 at the range, is your first cold shot always where you want it, or do you adjust after the first shot and then start stacking them? I use to shoot at a range that had a steel pig at 300 yds. I could light that pig up shot after shot, but I would often have a miss or near miss on my first shot. Once I saw where I was hitting, it was easy.

Having said that, the longest shot I have ever made on a deer was at 350 yds. I was shooting a .25-06 with a Redfield 1x5 scope. Missed the deer 4 times before I figured out I was aiming over the deer. I thought the deer was 500 yds away, but I was young and foolish and decided to try to kill it anyway. Fortunately for me, the buck was younger and more foolish than I was and wouldn't run out of the canyon. I finally saw my shot hit over his back and I realized he wasn't nearly as far away as I thought. The fifth shot found it's mark. Not exactly bragging material...lol.

My point is a 300 yd shot from a deer stand is no easy feat. Very doable with the right equipment by a practiced, calm, steady shooter. But to act like it's the same as doing it at the range is foolish.

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just a hunting nut

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its so apparent.

1 power x 5 power zoom. Great little scope if you dive off into the brush or shoot a feeder pen at 100yds or less. But not much help at 350yds.