I'd also go with the 44mag over the 357 or 41. The 357 is marginal at best and the 41 lacks in factory and handloads compared to the 44. I started pistol hunting with a S&W 29 , but I got into the T/C's a few years back and now shoot a 15-inch Encore in .308 topped with a Nikon 1.5-5X.