Your Rossi was in fact the Assault Rifle of it's time, and 10 rounds of 357, 44 or 45 will take you far.
Trailrider has made an excellent point. One could follow the sage advice of old LEO's passed down to me -
In their 12 ga riot guns the first 2 rounds coming out (ie last 2 loaded) would be #4 birdshot, followed by 2 BB's, followed by buckshot, with4 rifled slugs in the stock mounted carrier.
Thus you could have for example 4 rounds of Glaser Safety Slugs, followed by 3 rounds of Silvtertip, followed by 3 rounds of
Soft Lead Cowboy Loads, with 5 rounds of +P Bear Loads in a stock sock cartridge sleeve.
As my night vision begins to disappear and my Official Old Fart Presbyopia is kicking in with a vengance, I am equipping the the needful items in the "Repel Borders" locker with clamp-on 90+ lumen streamlights and laser sights.
In our semi-rural area we do get quite a combination of Night Visiting creatures including skunks, racoons, coyotes, roof-loving squirells, bobcats, cougars, black bear and deer; as well as the occasional 2-Legged Hyena. Thus as I wander the tiny homestead at night I like to make sure that I can spotlight & ID the critter in question, ensure that it is NOT a neighbors pet, (or God Forbid one of ours that got out!), and have the ability to drop that little red dot on the forehead or chest as required.
Being clamp-ons, they are readily removed on a whim so as to restore Duck/Deer/CAS target capability.
Amusingly, any of the non-Hyenas are usually quite surprised, and I have been able to discuss matters with them and put in the request that they move along; with the exception of the Long Desired Barn Cat who I asked to move into our shed. Our mouse issues have diminished greatly.
So far all the others have all graciously agreed, and skedadled to a less verbose household.
I have had only one occasion with a Hyena to date, interestingly during daylight hours a few years ago, and when they continued to ask for someone who never lived here I removed my Hat with my left hand, covering the crossdraw I was perfoming with my right, whilst stating firmly "No Hable Espanol. That Person Never here. YOU LEAVE NOW" .
which they did.
That incident persuaded me to make the investment in the inexpensive clamp-on lasers, which by the way are dirt simple to operate even for She WHo Must Be Obeyed. The Advantage of Low Light Dot On Target is extraordinarily comforting during nocturnal events, and somehow when a Hyena gets lased in the eyes and seeing the Little Red Dot appear on the chest makes for a powerful incentive for the Hyena to suddenly remember an appointment to be Elsewhere.
side mounts are affordable and readily available to plop a flashlight on one side and a laser on the other side of a lever action :-)
some catalog shopping for your entertainment:
45 COLT Glaser :
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/2GSS05000-1.html45 Colt Cowboy Loads
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM4965-1.html.45 Colt Hollow Point ( 920 fps)
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM5021-1.html.45 COlt "Bear Loads'
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM4950-1.html.45 Colt Barnes HP
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/2BB45CLT3-1.html.45 Colt Corbon +P
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/2COR45C265BC-1.htmlAnd here's a cherap laser/flashlight combo
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/60921593-1.htmlyhs
prof marvel