for what it's worth, and there isn't much difference really between a 41 and a 44, i did finish off an elk a couple of years ago with a 41magnum using a 210grain gold dot, right behind the ear. It hit her so hard, it bulged her eyes out, and she was smoking out her nose. I was pretty impressed.
I also was fooling around a few months ago with some 310grain cast bullets in 44 magnum.
I fired into seven lined up gallon milk jugs, should have used more. It split the first three, pentrated all seven and kept on going. I am saving up jugs now, next time i try that i am going to line up about 15 of them.
I wouldn't have any hesitation about either the 45colt, 41magnum or 44magnum knocking a deer down. Assuming you can hit it.
My personal bias is towards the six inch versions. Easier to pack than the longer ones, and you get a little more velocity and sight radius than the four inch.
