I'd say use it - it's what you have. It's better than ramming your fist down a bear's throat. As noted, the conventional factory ammo is pretty dubious stuff. For, uh, a long time, my wife's backpacking pistol has been a Charter Arms "Target Bulldog" .44 Special (4" adjustable sights). That's her choice; she can have anything she wants, and even has choices in the safe, but that's hers. Strictly handloads, and they would *possibly* get an Elmer Keith "OK", because they are pretty hot. Frankly, I hate shooting the darn thing - 19 ounces - seems like a grenade going off in my hand. Doesn't hurt, but it's not what I'm accustomed to. But SHE likes it, she shoots it very well, and she is not bothered by it in the least. It has taken a few ptarmigan - maybe some other camp meat; I can't remember for sure; that's my task usually and I use my own pistol. She has speed loaders for it and knows how to hold it vertically when ejecting empties (they have an ejector rod stroke that is just not *quite* long enough to fully clear the brass from the chambers).<br><br>I put reliability way, way up there for that sort of carry. I guess that's part of why my wife likes her tiny little 44 - it is reliable. And she knows how to use it. Of course, if you want another firearm... there are ones that I would put way ahead of a 44 special...<br><br>Regards,<br><br>Scouter Tom