the .308 is an excellent round for deer and elk and i would recommend you get one. The .308 can be used for varmints with some .308 accelerator rounds[these are very light bullets with a sabot]. I shoot a .308 and love it cause it is better than an 30-06 within a hundred yards and you can still knock stuff down at farther ranges with it. I use 150 grain hornady light magnums and have dropped three mule deer with these. I would not use the .308 for varmints although you can.