If the .44 mag is a revolver I'd personally go with the Leupold 2X but if a TC or other specialty single shot handgun I'd go with the variable. I'm of the opinion that more than a 2X is just not needed on a .44 mag revolver and I prefer the wider FOV to the higher magnification.
On handguns I keep it set at the lowest magnification anyway when I have a variable on it and seldom ever turn it up before shooting. If it were a Burris 2-7 I might have said otherwise as it has same FOV at 2X as the Leupold 2X does but as much as I like the Bushnell 2-6 scopes their FOV is very narrow and since you're using a close range handgun why give up FOV for magnification.
That's the view from here.