Yes for both. There are suitable self-defense and suitable hunting loads. It's all about the correct loads and they exist for both purposes.

Yes it is a very good home defense and short to mid range large game rifle. Where it really shines is if you reload you can use the Ruger Only loads in the rifles and the rival the 44 mag if you don't reload the buffalo bore heavy loads will bring down anything in North America

I think 230 grain bullets at moderate velocities from a .45 Colt might be a little light for deer at 100 yards. It can do it, I'm sure, but I'm not sure how reliably it'll happen.
Another concern is bullet design. 230 grain bullets in .45 caliber are commonly round nosed, and those aren't a good choice for shooting deer. A big, wide meplat will work a lot better for dropping a deer quickly.
I shoot 300 grain bullets from my .45 handgun at around 1250 fps (Ruger only load). The same load from my '92 Win leaves the barrel at around 1600 fps. These will kill anything that walks in Arizona when I go there to hunt.

Go for a 250gr. bullet at least. The 45 is easily loaded for deer, but 100 yards will take some special planning. 230gr. bullets wouldn't be my choice.

Hi Shaun, Of course it would be Im not sure about deer hunting though. I'd get a 30-06 for that