Can't have cake and eat it too. To knock down a Michigan white tail deer is not a problem for the 44 mag, its that you cannot have the energy at 200 yards to kill one. 100 yards maybe. At 200 yards, energy and bullet drop forbid it. If you want something unique and fairly inexpensive, look at the 444 Marlin, 1600 + or - @ 200 yards, straight walled cartridge, great lever action rifle. I have seen Michigan White tailed deer, and there is no way that I would shoot one with a pistol cartridge out of a rifle. You should really be looking at a 30-06, it is probably the best "all around" rifle for North America. You can use a sabot round for varmints, and you can load up with a 180 grain, and shoot anything short of a Grizzly or Kodiak with a 30-06 (Caution; do not shoot a Kodiak or Grizzly with a 30-06.)
So Michigan has a new law where in the lower areas you can hunt with strait Cartridge guns. IE pistol rounds. Wondering if any one has any first hand experience with these rifles. I really like .460 S&W but having a hard time finding one to look at. Not sure about the ammo cost on these. I'm looking for something to hunt deer with up to 200yds. The standard .44 seems good out to 150yds from what I read and decent ammo prices. But looking for a little more. Law says the cartridge can't be more than 1.8" long.
Any one with some experience?