Nostalgic appeal of the venerable .44 Spl is something with which I'm familiar.
I was an avid reloader of .44 Mag/Spl as a younger man.
That said, I haven't carried a 5-shot .44 Spl snub since I owned a pair of early production Charter Arms 3" Bulldogs many years ago. (Less-than-satisfactory experience, which is another story.)
While I wouldn't be particularly averse to having a good quality, short-barreled .44 Spl again for occasional field/backwoods carry, I'd much sooner carry one of my compact/subcompact 9's, .40's or .45's for a personal defensive role when I felt like carrying a pistol.
I much prefer to carry one of my assorted 7 S&W 5-shot snubs, but then I usually carry them in pocket holsters instead of belt-carry.
I've found it's usually easier to find some of the better modern defensive hollowpoints in 9mm than in .44 Spl, and on more store shelves.
Your call. I could see eventually owning whatever interested me in both calibers (as I have in the past).
I'm not particularly interested in own a Taurus revolver, myself.
Now, if Ruger decided to offer their SP101 in a 5-shot .44 Spl version? (Or make a thinned-out version of the chunky GP?) That might be enough inducement to make me consider indulging my nostalgic appreciation of the caliber, and add one to my collection.
I'd probably add it to my list of documented weapons with which I've qualified, too.
I'd have to live with the dearth of modern hollowpoint loads and sporadic availability, though. (Compared to the relative ease of finding 9mm defensive loads.)
Just depends what you want.
How well can you handle and shoot either choice, though?
