Personally, I'd go with the M1A....
and I wouldnt hit a Buck with a .223, a medium size doe at close range, ok, but .223 is really pushing the limits of a clean kill....
and if you take SatanLvsU2's advice and start looking for a G3 type rifle, look into the PTR-91, 1" at 100 yards... mags are cheap too, and the roller locking action is sweet
