Agreed. My 4" 686+ has over 30,000 rounds fired to date. Bullseye competition load is West Coast Bullet 148 gr DEWC over 4.1 gr Winchester 231. Plinking with West Coast Bullet 125 gr TCSP over 4.5 gr 231. Both on .38SPL brass. For carry, Federal HydraShok 125 gr .357 mag.
The .357 still has the best (non head/neck) single shot stop percentage of all calibers. Bigger's not better. The .44 mag often will move too quickly & too deeply for hydrostatic shock to occur. The scalloped SJ on the remington transfers quickly. Big time immediate damage. I imagine it's the same way with your Hydroshok.