I've had at least 1 Ruger 44 Carbine for last 50 years and have found them to be reliable if kept clean and if shot with jacketed bullets. Soft lead bullets can plug the gas port. I've shot a pile of whitetails with the 44 International that I got when I first started deer hunting. I've always shot 240 grain JSP or JHP factory ammo, mostly Remington brand, and found it to be an accurate sure killer when the deer were shot through the lungs at reasonable ranges. It isn't an bang/flop killer, but the soft bullets expand well and typically penetrate through and through leaving an obvious blood trail in its wake if they don't hit a major bone.
