I would sure go with the 44 Magnum. The 44 Special loads would be milder to shoot than any 41 factory loads that I have seen. Then step up to the full power loads for hunting. The 44 Mag may be the most versitile handgun ever built.

Any gain one would get in recoil reduction with the 41, is lost in its lack of versitility compared to the 44 Mag. That said, the 41 Mag is capable of being a good Black Bear and deer round. I would not consider the 357 Mag for anything except a short range deer gun. And defense against varmits of the human kind.