Brett I have a rifle for everything from Red squirrels to elephant but then again I'm not right in the head
One of my favorite rifles is a custom 257 Roberts built on a 1909 Argentine Mauser action. Next up is the 275 Rigby (7X57) then a 7MM-08.
As to eating right up to the hole I once shot a doe at 40 yards facing me with a 416 Taylor using a Barnes 300gr X bullet. It went through the deer lengthwise and I tossed out nothing. I have torn them up worse with a 270.