Welcome to the forum FF! there's are a lot of great information here.
I took my first handgun deer last year with my 6 inch 686. I could not make up my mind between a cast core or hollow point. So I loaded both. i recommend staying with the heavy bullets. I used the Winchester Supreme partition gold 180 grain hollow points and the Federal vital shock 180 grain cast core. Last year I lead with the cast core and followed it with a hollow point. I think I will reverse that this year.
My first round was off due to my nerves, but when that cast core hit her in the rear hip she took two full steps sideways away from me. The second shot was on the money and the hollow point dropped down after a ten yard run. she got up again and I didn't feel like tracking that day so I used a few more bullets on her. As you will find on this forum most people think the 357 is a little thin for white tail. I agree with them. but as long as you keep you distance within 50 yards or so and you can make good placement you will have no problems with your 357
Here is the link to my post with pics of my deer and my Smith.
My first handgun deer