More help on rifle needed.

[jeffb]

I have lived in Kentucky for 6 years and hunted here a few years before that. I have never taken a deer with my rifle that was not within range of the slug gun I used in Indiana. As a matter of fact I used my m/l and slug gun in Kentucky before I moved and the first year I lived over here. So if you are looking for something that you can use both places the 44 should be fine. If you already have a slug gun or m/l that you can use in Indiana I would go with something different. The first rifle I got was a 270 and my son who was in the 6th grade used it to take a deer and the recoil was less than the 20 gauge slug gun he had been using without managed recoil ammo. I like a bolt action so of the calibers you listed I would chose the 243. If you are a lever gun guy maybe you would prefer one of the others.

[gruntmedik]

Another plus for the 44 lever gun, is it makes a fine defensive rifle/carbine as well.

[Kcoyboy]

The 44 mag with say 240 gr hollowpoints will knock a deer dead out to 100 yds and at 75 yds the tipical range in ky it really will do the job better than the ole tried and true thuty thuty. Unless your shots are more than 100 yds the 44 is the better gun!

[gruntmedik]

I just picked up a Marlin 1894 44 Mag from Dick's for $499+tax.

[dpowers]

I pick up the .44 at dicks a few weeks back and love it.