I used to hunt with a TC Contender in .35 Rem. It did well and I enjoyed it. However I really prefer revolvers. I sold it. I hunt with a Ruger Blackhawk 7 1/2 bbl , 2x Simmons Scope, with a 452424 Keith over 19.5 grns of H-4227. Not too powerful, but very, very accurate in my gun. Besides, like ol' Elmer said...Once it goes through the critter, the rest of that energy is wasted on the sand bank that stops the bullet. Too bad my S&W .45 Colt Mnt Gun doesn't like that load.
It really doesn't take much to punch through a deer or blackbear.
Recently (like, last month) however, I picked up a used Dan Wesson in .44 Mag with a 8 inch bbl. That dang thing is so accurate it's spooky! My favorite load is a RCBS 44-250kt over 10 grains of Unique. Again, not super hot, but enough power to do anything that needs doin' in these parts. Plus it is comfortable to shoot in my S&W .44 mag Mnt Gun. But in that Dan Wesson, it makes one ragged hole at 50 yards (as far as I have shot it). Just spooky accurate that Dan Wesson! Might have to take the scope off my Ruger and use that as my stalking gun and put the scope on the DW for the deer blind (the DW is as heavy as a tank, the Ruger is much nicer to walk/stalk with.