Well I am not a serious handloader so I would go with the .44mag. Practice with .44 special and hunt with 300gr XTPs. I am sure the .357 will work fine too. If you handload alot than any is as good as the other, IMO. People argue the points of .45 vs. .44 all the time, but the fact is that either will work well on deer. I have killed deer and hogs with a .357 and .44mag and I prefer the .44mag mostly because of the guns I own. I say whichever barrel you could find cheap is the best choice. Sorry I wasn't much help in picking "one."