as i tell my rifle shooting friends, why start with a 3030 and hope for expansion to 40 or so whan you can start with 44 or 45 even in a rifle. the 357 just seems light to me yet if i recall there was some who hunted some vary good sized game with the NEW 357MAG in the 1930's. now there is some talk is the 44mag enough. maybe deer elk and black bear thicker/stronger hide than they did in the 30's & 50's