This is slightly off topic but my brother had a Ruger M77 IN .308 caliber It was their ultra light model It had a 18 or 20 inch barrel that was like a pencil Even with a 2.5 x8 scope the thing was so sweet to carry .And he killed a lot of deer with that rifle .At the same time I was carrying a similar model M77 in 25.06 caliber It had a 24 inch barrel with open sights on it And it was fitted with a Bushnell 4x12 scope . I really liked how it shot but it was a bugger carrying it in the brush And it was not much better when I was in a tree stand . A light quick handling gun will make up for any slight loss of bullet velocity most of the time because the shooter will be able to get on the target and get a god shot .

most of our hunting is rather short range can't think of a deer I ever shot over 150 yards with most under 80 yards getting on them fast at the short range is definitely key.
I am sure it changes with terrain , ours isn't suited for seeing far unless it is a hay field.