Ok Guys. This is my situation. I am looking to purchase my next firearms. I am looking to purchase a henry big boy. What I am looking to do with this however is wide ranging. First I am looking to use it in cowboy action shooting, second I am looking to use it for hunting, third just an all around good shooter for fun repetative shooting.

Where I stand... I hunt for deer and black bear. Been having great success with my .308 thus far but need a lighter gun these days.

As stated above I am also trying to get gear together for cowboy shooting. That will also include a pair of ruger vaquero's that i have settled on 45 colt for.

Normally one would have their rifle and handguns in the same calliber for these matches.

So my questions are, would you go with 44 mag. For the rifle for what i am trying to do? That one I know is rated for deer and black bear, or has anyone here hunted deer and black bear with 45 colt?

I know I can Tame the 44 mag down for shooting matches to 44 special. And I know the 45 can come in some pretty hot loads.

Also all I am interested in just using factory loads for now. I have not gotten into hand loading yet.

So what are your experiances? Would the 45 do what I want? Be able to take black bear with factory ammo? And allow me to carry one calliber to matches? Or should I just suck it up and carry two callibers for the matches and have a good 44mag. For hunting with?

Ps i hunt 200 yards or less. I currently enjoy a beretta cx4 storm 9mm, ruger sr9c 9mm, rossi sxs 12 guage, savage tactical 308.