I was one who never got on the 300 gr. and bigger bullet bandwagon. I figure for anything I hunt the 240 gr. bullet in .44 magnum is plenty. Deer, elk, mountain lion and maybe, just maybe a black bear someday. I ordered a box of 240 gr. lead semi wadcutters from Double Tap. DT states 1455 fps from a 7.5" barrel. Figuring a 100 fps loss in velocity for every 1" of barrel loss I figure to get about 1155 or so from my 4 5/8" SBH. My question is this, is the above mentioned load to hot for the SBH? What about the S&W Model 29? Most of what I have shot has always been Remington and Winchester factory 240 gr. JHP and JHP.

I don't feel there is any real advantage of a 300 grain slug of the same diameter as a 240 from the 44. Now, if you increase diameter, a la 45 or 475, along with weight then the increase really begins to pay off. Lighter bullets are also easier on the equipment, as well as the shooter.

The loss of velocity will be more on the order of about 30 fps per inch of barrel, not 100 fps.
No, the load is not too much for a SBH. It will also be fine for a 29/629 if it is one with the Endurance package upgrades incorporated between 1990-91. If it is an earlier version, I would not shoot a steady diet of thousands of rounds per year.

These guns would be lucky to see 100's of rounds per year, won't even get close to 1,000 per yr. I just don't shoot much anymore.
Not infrequent enough to sell off any guns though, I like all that I have and plan to keep them. The two .44's will get more use than the others combined. Most likely less than 500 per yr.

check out this web site:
http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/index.html
Basically they take a t/c 18" shoot and chrony a round, then cut off and inch, all the way down to 2".
Mostly 'normal' pistol rounds, not our smokers. But they do have .44's.
I think shot placement is way more important than fps. Get your sites set for the round you are using, make a good shot, and start filling the freezer.

Happy hunting,
Dogsbreath

No potential for a long debate here. lol
From what I've read and seen, although pretty limited, the heavier bullet, even moving slower, carries more, thus giving better penetration. That's good if penetration is what you're after, which I am, but I understand not everyone is. Having said that, please don't make me out to be a hater of lighter bullets! For hunting deer, ammo companies seem to all offer a 240g bullet which says something. At the end of the day, I'm shooting what my gun likes!