I have the same mount. I mount mine as far back as I can. The rear adjustment screw is over the cylinder. I loosen both adjustment screws up, put the two outside pieces in the rearmost slots in the rib, put the center piece in, put the cross bolts in hand tight, then adjust both of the elevation adjustment screws, then tighten the crossbolts. The mount will fit with either end forward, but with my burris 2x7, the bell will catch the base if I don't have it correct. As a warning, the two adjustment screws will leave little brass colored circles on the rib and frame when mounted this way. It also puts the eyepiece over the hammer. I think it balances pretty well this way, but it would be tight getting your thumb with a glove between the hammer and scope.
Don't know about .44 loads, but it is good enough for 3"/100yard groups out of my .41 with bullets from 215 to 315 grains.