jadams951.....your situation sounds very similar to mine a few years back. Back in the late 70's I had a .44 mag Ruger that beat up my hand and wrist to the point that it was so unpleasant to shoot that I sold it. Years later I bought a 6'' ported 686 just for something to play with and found it so accurate and such a pleasure to shoot, that it has become my favorite range gun. I carried it for many years as a backup during gun deer season along with my M1917 '06. Because of its relatively small bulk and weight it carried well in a hip holster and besides being well suited for the occasional coup de gras, coyote and small game, I also took several deer with it alone. I always considered it's range and effectiveness as comparable to my compound bow and used it accordingly. Being from Wisconsin, the only threat I faced in the woods during deer season other than stray bullets is wolf and bear and had always figured they had to get by the '06 before they faced the so called(at least by many here) under powered .357. If this is your situation, the .357 should do you well. When I decided to go with a revolver as my primary carry, and leave the long gun at home, I realized I needed more range and more downrange power than the .357 could provide, thus the investment in the XVR. Still all the power in the world don't do you any good if you cant hit what you're aiming at as I demonstrated to myself this year during the late antlerless hunt. Because of the newness, unfamiliarity and only having the opportunity to shoot a coupla hundred rounds thru the .460, I missed a coupla deer that had I had the .357, woulda been in the freezer. The few days a year that I carry the long gun(when I'm in close proximity to others in my hunting party and don't want to expose them to the muzzle blast of the .460....like sitting on stand with my youngest son) I still strap on the 686 for a backup and feel comfortable with it.
