Old thread resurrected...
You should hunt with what you want, as long as it will humanely kill your quarry. Usually more a bullet issue than a rifle or caliber issue, but I'm sure you guys know what I mean.
The big issue for me, is that most precision rifles are very poorly designed for the hunting I like to be able to do. I like to walk far and spend days out in the field. That isn't the issue so much, as carrying weight is fine, though less enjoyable than carrying less weight. The issue is that at the distances I am willing to take a shot in the hunting field, the typical heavy precision rifles we use offer no advantage, and have other draw backs besides weight. A snap shot is close to impossible, if you actually know how to snap shoot. Standing shots are harder than they need to be, as are most other positions besides bipod, tripod or ruck rested. The scopes either don't go down low enough (not usually too much of an issue), or they don't have reticles that work well at low power. Not that they can't be used, but they are absolutely a disadvantage compared to scopes better designed for fast action. And that's really my issue with all this. yes, you can make it work, lots of people do. But, a purpose built tool will always be more effecient. Shooting for me is about hitting efficiently.
My two current favorite rifles that I have mostly for hunting is the Fix, and a Blaser R8. Neither is really light when all kitted up, though they can be. They are both extremely precise, and easy to handle quickly. Swap scopes and bipods, and they will hold their own with much heavier rigs. keep their scopes smaller and lighter, and ditch the bipod, and they handle very quickly. Purpose built, and definitely purposely set up, for whatever type of shooting you prefer.
