the answer to your question is, as you may well surmise, ayup. (greetings, by the way, from the great frozen north).
If you can afford a custom rifle, pick a style which appeals to you and go for it, but be prepared to pay the builder for his or her time and skill. in the alternative, you can try building one for yourself, but this will lead you down a path from which there is no hope of recovery or return.
absent a custom gun, i would recommend a Thompson Center or a Lyman, although there are several other factory build rifles out there. I don't have any direct experience with Lyman, but their reputation is excellent. Thompson Center has a wrap- around- the- world warranty. If it doesn't work properly, send it back and they fix or replace it. No whining about 'original packaging,' or "proof of ownership,' or any of that try-to-get-out-of-it :bull: ... just up front fair dealing. My T/C had a twentyfive year old lock, and the frizzen was a bit scruffy, and i'd heard that they had redesigned the lock, so i contacted T/C and asked if i could buy a new frizzen, and the lady there told me to mail in the lock and they'd replace the whole deal. cost to me was postage. i mailed it out on Monday and the new lock was in my mailbox on Thursday.
now some folks will complain that T/C isn't as historically accurate or period correct as they would like, and i suppose that that's a legitimate complaint. So if HC/PC is an important deal for you, a Lyman or a T/C is probably not the way to go. on the other hand, youwill get a reliable and fairly accurate rifle for your money. (OK, it's safe to come out now- that's the end of the sales pitch.)
as regards the 'accuracy' issue, i would recommend that you buy Dutch Schoultz monograph. it's money very well spent, and it will tighten up your shot groups if you follow his advice and make use of his method. would I try a hundred yard shot on a whitetail? No, probably not, but not because i'm worried about the rifle's performance, but rather my own: if i could rest it on a branch or somesuch i might take the shot, but standing, offhand, open sights, no sling ... well, maybe but maybe not. most of the deer i see are much closer- forty to sixty yards. as far as terminal balistics, don't worry- a fifty calibre will put Bambi in your freezer for sure (assuming that you have good shot placement- if you don't, you might as well use a 20mm and you'll still be following a blood trail).
more tirade: use real flints (i like Rich Pierce's flints, and Tom Fuller's Black English Flints are also very good)... use real BP (it's cheaper, it's more stable, it ignites at a lower temperature, it's more reliable, it will make you thinner, richer and more sexually attractive, it will never make you ugly or make your mother dress you funny) it's also a pain in the a$$ to get in some parts, but it's worth the hassle (especially if you buy in bulk). stick with PRB (Patced Round Ball) and avoid the fad stuff.
well, that's one guy's free advice, and no doubt worth every penny.
good luck, and welcome to the fascinating world of rockbangers!