Same in my neck of the woods...centerfire for deer no rimfire.
We used to be shotguns only but they made rifle legal maybe 4-5 years ago. I like the big bore calibers because they knock them right down...when I land a hit with the 9.3 they just go down most I've ever seen is 2 steps after the hit and I suspect that was because they were shut off during forward motion.
Also, I like the break open guns much better for hunting because they are very quiet to load and reload. They don't rattle and in the safety's can be turned off quietly without a click. I am enamored with the Krieghoff combi-cocking system where the hammers are not even cocked till you push the safe like thumb actuated slider forward.
I do have a .223 but I wouldn't take it for deer. The 300 Blackout worked fine and I would no doubt improve that performance with my 6.5x54 Mannlicher or the 7x57R in a Merkel combo gun (then again dead is dead and there are not different degrees of deadness). However, my heart is in the 9.3mm's and I find my Drilling the most versatile. I like my Merkel double rifle but It's not as accurate as the Drilling.
I do have a 50 Alaskan Model 71 that I may screw with next season as I just bought some brass and 450 grain WFN gas checked bullets. Unfortunately the bolt peep will limit my effective range largely due to my eyes.
