I've carried a Stainless Taurus M44 in .44mag for several years. It has the ported 6.5 inch barrel. Two weeks ago, I shot a buck with it - my first handgun kill. I used 240 grain JHP by American Eagle (Federal). It dropped in its tracks, which I did not expect. The bullet was well placed, right behind the shoulder. There was no exit wound and the deer did not bleed at all. I shot it at dusk so I'm glad it dropped instantly- tracking it would have been impossible without a blood trail.

Saturday, I'm hunting with my sons in a ground blind. Although we're hunting deer, the blind is in prime hog territory and I'm hoping to test out the .44 mag on a hog