A few things here. First, I really wasn't talking about deer...yet!

Next, the rule of thumb for years for deer was 800ft. lbs. I think the recent move upward to 1000 ft. lbs. was done by manufacturers who want to sell more magnum cartridges.[&:]

Finally, and what I was really getting at was this: Wouldn't a .454 Casull make a sweet lever action rifle...even as a close range deer gun? The handgun has performance approaching the 30-30. A rifle version might do very well.