So my dad has a Rossi M92 45 LC that he says I can have when I turn 18, I really like the gun, and I was wondering if it would be a good gun for Texas Hill Country Deer and Hog.

Sure. Just get to know its limits.

Hi Ben!

The .45 Colt was designed originally as a revolver round but has really turned into a decent little rifle round since the advent of Cowboy Action Shooting (now almost 40 years ago...which explains a lot of this gray hair!) put a bunch of .45 LC chambered lever guns on the market. Like me, a good number of Cowboy shooters couldn't resist taking their saddle guns afield, and we found that they could take game just fine. Of course (and like every OTHER firearm you choose to hunt with), you need to become proficient with the rifle...which means learning the limitations of the cartridge (ie trajectory) and your own ability to deliver hits where you want them. For me, my sights, and my old eyes that's a maximum of 100 yards...and 75 is a better all day / every day answer.

The Rossi 92 is a lightweight, handy little rifle and strong enough for them to chamber it in the .454, so it will handle warm loads with no problem...but recoil may become an issue with the heavier factory loads. I've run some hot Buffalo Bore rounds through a Marlin 1894...and found shooting my old .416 Rigby more enjoyable!

Frankly, I believe that any moderate 250 grain .45 Colt load will kill any deer or hog that walks within 100 yards if you do your part and not pound you into pudding in the process.

Have fun!

Mark

Excellent response 218 Bee, and spot on.

I have taken wtd, axis, turkey and a bobcat with my 45 Colt Marlin which is capable of monotonous clay breaking at the 100 yard berm. I shoot the Lee 250 RF boolit and unique. I have a Skinner front sight and a Marlin rear Folding sight. I've taken 8 axis and several wtd, all one shot kills. I shoot it frequently and it is my carry gun on the ranch for targets of opportunity.

As the BEE says, learn the gun, limits and your abilities. If possible, reload for it that you may shoot more. The Rossi and the 45 Colt are certainly capable and...........you're gonna like it!!

For me as well, Papalote. My old Marlin '94 .45 Colt rides either in a scabbard on my UTV or under my right stirrup leather if I'm horseback here on the ranch. If I do my part, it always holds up its end.

Interesting that you mention taking turkey with yours. I've done likewise and that big slug at a sedate velocity minimizes secondary projectiles (i.e. broken bone) and reduces tissue damage...leaving me with more wild turkey to eat.

The .45 LC in a saddlegun is a remarkably effective combo...provided that you don't feel duty bound to take shots into the next zip code!

Mark

After being down this road a few times, it is not the way i would go if i had other options. While they will for sure work, there are tons of guns that are just as handy and have better overall performance. Even something as mundane as a 3030 outpaces the 45 colt in pretty much every category, I would prefer the 45 with heavy cast bullets and heavy loads on something like an elk, but for deer and hogs, I think you would be better served with almost anything else. So, would it be a good gun for the task you listed, IMO, not really. Would it work for the task you listed, sure. And if it is what you really want to use, then use it

Well, I don't know about young Ben, but "options" was something that I was miserably short on when I was 18. Like him I hunted with what I was given (and the .218 Bee is a sight less capable than the .45 Colt!). Are other combinations more efficient? Of course...if you have access to them. Will the Rossi / Colt combo be a "good" deer/hog rig for the Hill Country (as Ben asked)? Also, of course...within its envelope.

But, differences of opinion are what makes horse races, I guess. Have good evening!

Mark

I do have options and the 45 Colt is what I carry most of the time.
I have loaded 300 gr boolits and H110. I shot a WT buck at 50 yds with this load. The buck was upended and slammed to the ground. This was from a Ruger Bisley.
I've found the Lee250/Unique combination very pleasing in accuracy and performance.

Yes there are options......I could gain an extra hour of hunting time each day by carrying a scoped rifle......I could gain another 100 yds in distance with a scoped rifle...,and I do use my "go to" gun all the time.

My other ranch carry favorites are a 30-30 Winchester Trapper and Marlin 357.
Will it work for the stated purpose? Yes.
OP......if you have other options and hunt from a blind, carry both! I do. If the opportunity is within 45 Colt limits, use it. If not, use the option. But..........nothing replaces practice. Shoot often if you're able.

Agreed. You can eat right up to the bullet hole!! Recoil is light, noise is minimal, accuracy is very good plus mine hold 14 rounds!! No loose ca'tridges in my pocket!

Most all my shooting is well under 100 yards. The turkey was about 85 yards away. As you say, remarkably effective.

I do not have the 45 but my main truck ranch gun is a Marlin 1894 357 and with it I feel well armed for hogs and deer out to 125 yards. I have killed deer and hogs with the 44 Mag Trapper with both 44 Mags and 44 spcl.

I agree with the others 45 Colt will work well within its range limitations and like pointed out above you can eat right ho to the hole, very little blood shot meat with those slow moving big bulets.

Well, the OP asked it he rifle was a "good" deer rifle, so to me we have to compare it to other "deer" rifles, and by that measuring stick, it is really not a good deer rifle. Compared to throwing rocks, it is great. But objectively compared to other rifles, it is probably going to be in the bottom 15%. Any conclusion other than that and i am going to suspect a large amount of subjectivity in the comparison. That said, if the OP wants to use the gun then he should use it, but I am not going to blow smoke and say that it is a comparatively good deer rifle. And yes, I have hunted with 357,44 leverguns so i do have experience backing up my opinions.

45LC took this East Texas buck at 75 ysrds with ease.

I do have other options, my Dad also has a Win Model 70 in 30-06, but I feel that it might be a bit overkill for the size of deer in the Texas Hill Country, and I also really enjoy lever rifles in general.

That's a nice buck there, can't wait to get out there and start hunting.

Shoot what you like, but the model70 is about 100 times the deer rifle that the rossi 92 is. Good luck

Thank you for your advice.

You can buy smaller grain ammo for the 30-06 or get reduced recoil loads for the 30-06 that will be 125 grain IIRC. Lower velocity but still work great. As it is the 30-06 is fine for deer anywhere. If you like the lever action rifle then give it a try. Like others have posted know the distance/range limitations and start out with it on a few hogs to see how you like it for hunting.

John Linebaugh will argue that even with less than full blown Ruger only loads, 30-30 vs 45 Colt.

I also love lever actions and have went to using them almost exclusively. Your .45 will work great, I would use it over the 06' all day. Not because it's more capable but because I would like carrying the lever instead. Good luck - whatever way you go make sure you enjot it and be careful.

I am familiar with Linebaugh stuff, and do agree. I've been involved with deer and Elk being killed with 44 mag hardcast loads out of a rifle. And penetration is great. The problem is, with a hard cast bullet out of a 44 versus a plain old 150 grain core lock out of a 30-30, the 30-30 will put deer down quicker consistently. It will also basically double the range of the 44, just like it would the 45 Colt. This conversation was about deer hunting though, and in deer hunting the 30/30 beats the 45 colt every time. And that is just comparing the colt to the 30 30. If you try to compare a colt to a 308, 30 ought 6, 270, 708, Etc. the Colt just looks worse and worse. And that's just facts, no nostalgia or subjectivity thrown in.

So you take a gun like the Model 70 the OP has as an option. It will have greater mechanical accuracy, practical accuracy, range,ammo availability, better sights (scope), etc, and you start to understand that while adequate, when compared to a BUNCH of other guns, the 92 in 45 colt is not really a "good" deer rifle

Ben, I have to admit that I envy you...to have years of a hunting future stretching out before you!

Your comment about the old '06 being "a bit overkill for the size of deer in the Texas Hill Country" suggests that you're familiar with the whitetails of the Edwards Plateau and I happen to agree with you. It just doesn't take all that much to kill a buck that weighs 110 pounds guts, feathers and all!

But here's the thing I'll leave you with ('cause you already know my feelings about the adequacy of the .45 Colt used within reason): Whatever you choose to hunt with, have FUN. Hunting is a deeply personal endeavor and HOW we hunt should feed that part of ourselves that's hungry. Carry and shoot whatever makes you SMILE the most...the rest will take care of itself!

con cuidado,

Mark

With its somewhat limited range, it will teach you to be a Hunter, and not just a shooter. The 45 is a great round .

Very solid advice Mark