As I' m sure you have noticed....a familiar theme! When used from normal length handguns the .357 Magnum is at best...." adequate" for whitetails. In your original post you said close range, ie. 35 yards or so. And I concur with that assessment. For someone that feels really comfortable with their ability I would extend that to 50 yards. But the .357 Magnum out of standard length handguns really does not make a " solid" whitetail gun unless used with absolute precision and ethics. Yes it will kill whitetails....and has been used to kill many other larger animals as well, (but I question the motives of those that use it in that capacity.....except for " real survival" situations), because it leaves no margin for misuse or error. If your gun likes the 170 Gold Dots, and you are absolutely confident you can put the bullet into the heart and lungs, go ahead and use it to those limited ranges. It will work...it just demands alot of good judgement on your part.

When the opportunity presents itself, try one of the larger bores, and see the difference for yourself. Good luck with your endeavor!