Nomercy has EXCELLENT advise BUT I'd recommend your .22 1st handgun to be what your deer hunting revolver is, a revolver. If you're going to get a single action like the Ruger Blackhawk then get a single 6 or single 10. If you're set on a double action then make both that. That way you'll already be intimately familiar with the manual of arms and all you'll be doing is changing cartridges/calibers. Manual of arms means how the firearm is used/loaded/unloaded/cleaned/etc. Also I personally feel a .38 Special is too weak to deer hunt with, stick with at least a .357 or .41 mag when you move up.