[calex59]

My favorite handgun caliber is the .44 Special, the father of the .44 Magnum, the caliber Elmer Keith was actually pushing for when they came up with the .357, which is the son of the .38 special. A person can load a .44 special at relatively mild factory loads, which will still take down a bad guy easily if the shot is placed correctly, or you can load it almost as hot as a .44 Magnum if you so chose(depending of course on the brand of .44 special firearm you happen to have). The .44 Special is extremely accurate and I carry a 3 inch barreled version in a belly band holster(with CCW of course).

[Errant]

Have you thought about getting a Winchester 94 in 44 Magnum for a companion?
I have one of the Brazilian made copies in 45 colt though I wish it was a 454 which will also shoot 45 colt rounds. Makes a great combo using the same ammo as my pistols.

[Tainan]

+ 1 on the .44 Special.
Fine caliber with inherent accuracy and a lot of flexibility. I carried one as well for a lot of years.
Just for grins, I told folks who knew that it was my "back-up" carry...heh heh heh.
Also I am a very long time fan of Mr. Keith. Read him for years as a kid and grew to like his work even more as I got older.
I think my favorite book of his is..."Hell, I was there" detailing his position in the modernization of hand guns and shooting. He was the real deal.

[Mr Rogers]

For defense, I load my 44 Magnum with .44 Special: 260 grain bullet at 950 fps. Shoot the magnum ammo for fun, but a 44 special is plenty good against humans.

Nothing against the 357, but I like a bullet that expanded at the factory instead of trusting it to do so once it enters the body.