TIM: I shoot Marlins, Winchesters, and Rossi`s in 357MAG, 45LC, & 44MAG and they are great guns and without a dought, any of the three would kill a deer, under the right condicions. But I don`t really think that any of the three would be the right choice for me as and all around deer rifle. However the 444 Marlin, 45/70, or 450 Marlin are in a completely different league. They are IMHO, true hunting rifles of the first order. Again IMHO, I do not consider the 444Marlin, 45/70, or 450Marlin personelly, to be considered over kill for hunting Deer or any other Large Game Animal in Our Country. All three will take Large Game cleanly, and humanely. And I belive You would be hard pressed, to make a better choice than one of these three calibers in choseing, a Deer Hunting Lever Gun.
Good Luck To You:
ken