22-rimfire
New member
I suspect you want to use the 165 gr load because the recoil is more tolerable. Let's not forget that handgun loads on deer are for the most part pretty light when compared to traditional rifle calibers and loads (velocity, energy etc). Hence, I would go with the heavier bullet weight in a 44 magnum for both penetration and energy. Why shoot a 357 mag type load in a 44 when you have a 44 magnum? 357 magnums are generally considered marginal for whitetail deer. But, many use them for that purpose successfully. I'm a 41 mag man, but also have a 480 Ruger SRH.