A lot of guys are going with the various lever actions. I used a rossi 92 in .45 lc with 300 grain xtps going 1500 fps this late season and I can tell you those are great little guns that absolutly smack deer.
Loaded with standard .45 LC or handloaded to mid range these guns are perfect for short range and kids. Handloaded up they are sweet for adults. I am sure the various marlins in 45 or 44 mag would be no different. The only draw back on the rossi's is that they are harder to mount a scope (i.e. need a side mount or scout scope arrangement).
Also the tauras/rossi single shots in 44 mag are quite econmincal and are popular around my area of Michigan (west slug zone).
