Thinking about a lever action...

[Bitterroot Bob]

Howdy,
I set up a new Marlin .41 Magnum for deer as soon as it was legal here in Indiana. I mounted a 1-3x Weaver on top and am casting Lyman #41028 RNFP's for it. It won't digest Unique, Blue Dot, or any flake powder, but loves HOT 2400 loads.
Williams makes a receiver sight that uses the rear two scope mounting holes for around $35. XS has their ghost ring for about three times that.
The best Model 92's are the Navy Arms in any configuration. Smooth actions, great wood, and better finish and fitting than the Rossi/Puma's. If you want a powerful M92, the 454 Casull Puma is the way to go.
Unless you can stalk a deer, stay away from the M73/66 actions. If you do get close shots, I'd go with a 73 in .44-40 and use cases full of 777 substitute. Those actions can handle standard pistol loads- barely.
I won't discuss the new Henry (please don't Zumbo me).
If you don't handload, the choice is between the .357 and .44 Magnum and either the Marlin or M92 will be strong enough. There are some seriously interesting loads available for both, but the Buffalo Bore 180-grain .357 should be looked into. 30-30 performance in a small package.
Good lick with the choosing. Hopefully Indiana will keep one freeing up options and we will be able to use a larger selection of centerfires at some point. When I first started hunting here it was shotgun and muzzleloader. When they added handgun, it was limited to calibers larger than .357. We are now allowed Encores in .243 Win. There are some common sense folks in Indianapolis who have our interests in mind. Slow and steady. Hopefully, the Model 86 will be in the woods soon.

Bitterroot

[Bart Solo]

There are reasons more deer have been shot with  lever guns than with bolt action rifles. Especially in the woods they are light, easy to carry, they handle great and they give you a fast second or third shot.  Of course, in the wide open spaces out West they fall behind, but in the woods from Missouri east they are still king. 

By the way Rossi is a Brazilian (not Italian) company.     

[iunderpressure]

Bart,

I'm clear on Rossi being Brazilian, but the new 2009 model puma's are made by Chiappa out of Italy.

[Rangr44]

Don't be deceived by the nice pics and a new name for an older sub-quality company (Chiappa used to be known as Armi-Sport).
The quality is still not up to par, as stated in a few reviews by individuals who've actually gotten their paws on one.
Let google be your friend, and not just to gun rags with an agenda to give a good review.

All Winchester Model 92 clones are made in three places AFAIK: Italy, South America (Rossi), and Japan (Miroku).  Rossi & Miroku are the sole makers in their respective countries, with Rossi labeling under several brands/importers over the years.

Last week, I bought their latest version, a new BrazTech .357 Rossi M92 - that is every bit as original and of good quality as any Winchester 92 I've ever owned, except having a plastic mag follower and a lawyer bolt top extra safety.
I don't care for their practice of a few extra tapped holes in the barrel top, hidden under the rear sight longleaf - that I presume are made in all their barrels, but used only for their Scout model's scope mount - since they are exposed with the removal of the rear sight when installing a receiver peep.



On another note, about "ghost rings".

A ghost ring is nothing but a plain-old receiver peep sight, whose aperture hasn't been tapped for a removable aperture (available in various sizes).
Many receiver peep sight users use the aperture for zeroing and/or target shooting because the smaller aperture(s) give somewhat better accuracy, if not also slower to use.
Many also simply remove the aperture from their sight and shoot using the resulting ghost ring, which gives a more rapid target aquisition on game, and a wider field of view.
Most who complain about poor accuracy usually consiously try to center the front sight in the rear aperture or ghost ring, as for open sights - a definite "no-no" for peep sight use.

While some manufacturers have, in the past, issued their leverguns with peep sights from the factory, not many do today except for some of the fancier imports.
Most peep sights seen, whether receiver or tang, are usualy aftermarket purchased & installed.
That is a goog thing, for most buyers - since the aftermarket has a wide range of choices available, including side-mount receiver peeps, top-mount receiver peeps, tang-mount peeps, and a few that can be adapted to a bolt-top mount, some even replacing unwanted (by most) lawyer bolt safeties.
Many of the above peep options, however, might require a complimentary change to the front sight height - also a good chance to upgrade to a more desireable pattern/material (Ivory bead/Gold Bead/Fibre-optic/etc).

.