zmschillin

I've taken a few N.Y. whitetails with a pistol so I will give you my opinion (for what it's worth);
1) caliber - I see you are in Indiana so you have big deer, this would make the .357mag (my favorite caliber) too light, so .41 mag and up. You don't need a hand cannon. You don't need anything bigger than a .44mag , just learn to shoot it well.
2) gun - there all good, it's a personal choice, me, I like an unscopedrevolver that you can carry on your hip - the advantage of hunting with a handgun.
3) barrel length - 6" anything longer and you might as well use a rifle.
4) scope - 2x if you feel the need for one, or if you are planning on taking long shots, I feel they are too cumbersome and clumsyand takes away from the original intent of handgun hunting.