That is a great rifle. Not necessarily the most accurate. However the 44 magnum is not necessarily known as a cartridge for accuracy. It makes a great truck gun because you can remove the magazine, and the Ruger magazine system is a very good magazine.

The cartridge choice is great. If you cast your own bullets you should easily be able to reload 1,000 rounds for about $100, so practice would be cheap.

I personally believe the 44 magnum is a great deer round to 200 yards or slightly even longer. A lot of people do not think so, however I do. With any expansion at all you are looking at a 1/2" hole. Just shoot a heavy lead bullet with a large meplat. Tom.