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357 magnum in an L or N frame S&W are almost mellow. Got to admit 44 magnum is too much gun for personal defense, unless you are being attacked by someone 100 yards away(that ain't gonna happen in your house)but it sho nuff kills game inside 100 yards if you like to stalk up close and hunt with handguns. For personal defense I like my L frame 696 in 44 special. Only 5 rounds, but extremely accurate, and the boogyman shudders starin' down a .44 and seeing hollow points. Doesn't kick much either.

So, Dave, If you're still reading what you started, buy a bunch of guns if you can, while you can. And practice, practice, practice.

.44 Special is a grand old caliber. I prefer it to the .44 Mag which is just too much gun for anything but handgun hunting, like you say.

.44 Special is renowned in GA because there used to be a superior court judge in Early County who was known as "Judge Two Gun Charlie Worrell" because he presided with two loaded .44 Bulldog revolvers on the bench and used one for a gavel (with an empty chamber under the hammer I devoutly hope.) He was a great big man, an ex-Texas Ranger and Industrial League baseball umpire (the second job was definitely the more dangerous) with an absolutely square head and no neck whatsoever. My dad used to go bird hunting with him. He was quite a character . . . and there was definitely ORDER in his court. The lawyers were all terrified of him. He once offered to "go out back" and settle a point of law with a lawyer in his court. I don't know if they actually fought or not. All sorts of amazing stories are told about him, almost all true.

Yup,

I'm still reading!

Found a great gunshop in Mason, MI with someone willing to spend an hour going over dozens of handguns. I'm going back on the weekend to shoot a handful of them on the range.

I think after reading all the above posts many times that I may go for a .40 caliber from either SIG, Glock, H&K, or ParaOrdinance.

I'll shoot them all and pick the most accurate in my hand...

Many Thanks

David