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I’m giving serious thought to one of the new S&W 1854s.

For my use the uber slim and compact original Winchester 1894 in 16" is the best current option. But man....a stumpy Marlin with flat top and better Skinner and Optics options would be amazing. I am going to tote and beat it many trips per month in the mountains of Idaho.

I just CAN"T slum a 44. All my semi custom and standard Rugers are 45LC. All my bullets etc. Been a 45 fan long time. And it's cost me a ton of money staying dedicated to it.

They are out there to be found! One of them limited runs...

A carbine will take a hotter load than a revolver, so you will likely end up with two different reloads.
I had a Win 94 in 45 Colt and it was fun to shoot, but for hunting, I opted for a Marlin in 44 mag.

A carbine can't shoot the same ammo as a pistol?

I don’t understand your not wanting a Rossi, I have a 92 trapper 16” stainless with big loop that is beautiful and handy, that I shoot hot loads in, and a 454 stainless that I shoot the really hot 45 LC in too. Your loss

I have a Blackhawk and a Henry in 45 Colt. They bout are keepers.

Jesse,
A carbine can shoot revolver loads but a revolver cannot shoot high pressure loads that would be safe in a carbine. But nothing wrong with shooting the same revolver load in both

I picked up a beautiful used Rossi .45 Colt in a 16” trapper length for $400 a few months ago. Added a dovetail Skinner peep with just the ghost ring. Works great with existing front sight.

Just yesterday I worked with it offhand at the range. I have two loads……a 250 cast Missouri bullet at 990 fps and a 250 Hornady xtp at 1480 fps. A quick two turns on the peep adjusts point of impact changes for either load. Both loads feed like butter.

It may be one of the most fun, versatile, and handy carbines out there for handloaders especially.

I have 20" '94 Carbine, and a '92 with 24" bbl. Love them both, the lever through is shorter on the '92 making follow ups a bit quicker. I like that the '94 is easily fitted with an XS Peep, makes target acquisition quick and easy!

I have Rossis in .357, 44, and 454. They feed much better (less finicky) than my Marlins. My Marlins won't feed SWC's but the Rossi don't care!

My 45 revolvers are a S&W and a 1873 clone, neither one I want to shoot maximum loads in. My 45 lever is a Rossi. I’m sure the Rossi will handle much higher pressures but I load for the revolver pressures. The Rossi probably adds 400 fps with those loads. In my way of thinking a ~ 300 grain Keith style cast bullet going maybe 1,600 fps will easily kill anything here in South Dakota, well maybe marginal on bison, I’d probably go with a bigger cartridge.