Gustavo and 9ThreeXFifty7 give good advice when they say "... don't expect a handgun to be a stopper. Treat it like you would a bow and wait for the perfect shot." Yesterday I shot a groundhog square in the chest with a 357 Mag 158 gr JHP. It took me several minutes to get to it, and then I had to shoot it again! It surely would have died from the first shot, but I cannot let an animal suffer if I can help it. The point is, if the 357 Mag won't "stop" a groundhog, how much more can you expect from your 44 Mag? Take care, Tom