Thank you, I'm very excited to start, it's been an interest of mine for quite some time, I never really had any relatives or people that were into hunting so it'll be my first time.

New guy here. Couldn't find an introduction page so I'll jump in here.
IMO the 45lc is a great brush gun. Shorter range but has a good punch. Shoot what you have. As mentioned it will make you a better hunter and shooter. On a side note 45lc is easy to load. Buy a press, save your brass.You'll never be out of ammo.
Good luck and happy shooting.

There were probably more deer killed with the 44/40 than any other round, maybe the 30-30 or 30-06 are above it. In any event should be okay but you need to be a lot closer. I'm not sure how strong the Rossi is but maybe you could reload up a bit- if you do reload- use nickel cases or something to immediately ID them as hot loads so no one uses them in an old revolver. When I was about your age I cut out a card board silhouette of a deer, put it out in an open field 150 yards from the vehicle- I intended to use the hood as a shooting bench. When I got back to the vehicle and turned around- I could hardly see the card board cut out, blended in with dead grass, etc. In any event 50-100 yards is, in my opinion, about the workable range on a lever action with open sights- It's almost like using a traditional muzzle loader. In any event, if you accept that limitation then you should be okay. Farther south in the brush country- you might actually have closer range shooting. Maybe try rattling, etc. to draw in a buck for a closer shot.

Both the 45 and the 30-06 would make fine deer rifles. I went through a period during my hunting life that I Hunted with open sight lever guns exclusively...I just thought it was cool, and where I hunted, you rarely got an opportunity past 100 yards anyhow. One of the rifles I hunted with was a rossi 92 in 357. Longest shot was 110 yards. I still take that one out with me on occasion, but as was stated, you have to know your limitations. I suspect that in the hill country, you will get many opportunities past 100 yard, and the ought 6 will serve you better. However if you want the challenge of an open sighted lever gun, and the cool factor, go for it! Either way, practice, become proficient with your weapon of choice, and enjoy!

I respect both the content and tone of this post. Nicely done, Sir.

If you do go with a bolt somewhere down the road, I have a 30-06 Remington 700, perfectly okay but there may be better choices if it will be an exclusive deer rifle. The 270 Win is very good and the 308 is supposed to be very accurate. I have buddies that swear the 7mm- 08 is tops. A lot of hunting rifles get shot when first purchased, say 50 to 100 rounds. Then they get sighted in once a year before hunting season, say 20 rounds. A ten year old rifle might only have had a couple of hundred rounds shot through it- so...if money is tight, you might get a good deal on a used rifle. Just don't buy a varmint type or a caliber where it could have been shot a lot.

I just replaced my older Rossi 45 LC with a newer one, stepson let it fall off a hog trap as he was going down a gravel road with the trap on a trailer. Skun it up he did! Have to say a more useful gun to just have around when hog trapping or hunting the thick stuff could not be found. Mine seemed to kill quite well even using cowboy action loads for the trapped hogs that needed to be killed. I usually load the LEE round flat nosed cast bullet at 1300 fps and this seems to do a pretty good job for breaking bone and Texas heart shots you sometimes have to take as the hog is just getting into the brush. If something does travel a bit you have a good blood trail. I have never shot anything past 100 yards with it but consider it a very reliable hog and deer gun. My eyes are getting old so I put Burris 2.75 power scout scope on it and can put 3 of the cast loads into 3 inches at 100 yards with it no problem. Better than I could with young eyes. One thing I have noticed you don't find too many bullets because they go right on through bones crunched or not.

Yeah I use that Lee bullet as well and it really does have a flat nose and I find it very accurate. Good bullet!

Nice deer and gun !!

I hunted with a couple of Model 70 Winchester for many years and they were fine deer hunting rifles and good over 350 yards. Mine weighed over 10.5 pounds with a scope. This year i purchased a new Rossi R92 in 45 Colt with a 16" barrel. With iron sights it only weighs 5.5 pounds. I am looking forward to carrying it this year and trying to get a little closer. The standard velocity .45 Colt will usually through and through most any deer lengthwise. At .45 caliber the bullet is already expanded. I now have a Tika 30-06 that weighs 7 pounds with a scope. I will use that if I have shoot long range.