I've killed one doe with a Marlin 94 in 357 mag. The deer didn't react much at the shot, actually trotted off, crossed a dry creek bed, started up the other side and collapsed. Went about about 75 yds. I foolishly traded it off, but my current lever guns are 45 colt. No game yet, but I'd stand with the others here who like the more smack of a 44
I've killed several with my 1894c .357 and couldn't tell much difference between it and my .30-30. One doe double lunged from 200 yards only went 40 yards. Another shot high shoulder from about 50 yards dropped in a heap. 158 gr. hp factory loads on both.
