Was just checking the ammo supply here at the house to see what I had on hand and wouldn't you know it, all we have for the 357 is 38 specials 158 grain SWC. Local gun shop is out of 357 rounds at the moment. I guess I order those dies next and have Dad load them up. Out of the group of guns I listed ranked by accuracy which me shooting it would be the .40, .45, 357, then the 44 but that is understandable since I shoot the 40 the most and the 45 at least once every few weeks. The 357 I have not shot in years and the 44 I shot for the first time yesterday and can hit the target with it but the weight issue with one hand is problem if the shot will not allow me to prop it up. I don't have any double tap ammo at the moment for my 40 but I do have 25 rounds of 155 grain Magtech Guardian Gold Hollow Points that are supposed to be coming out of my barrel at 1205 fps with 500 ft/lbs of energy. I have not got a chronograph to measure it out of my gun yet though. The 45's are 185 grain XTPs at 970 fps 386 ft/lbs of energy on the box. The 44s are 180 grain JHP not sure what the speed is on those I didn't ask my brother when he handed my the ammo. The 44 is his. The black powder single action army is pretty accurate and deadly if you put it in the right place and use a modern style bullet. Lead balls do not work as well especially if you hit a heavy bone.Regardless of choice, my idea of a range limit is the distance at which I could reliably hit the end of a beer can.
Of the choices, I'd lean toward the Python or the .40. Shooting sticks might be quite helpful in holding a good sight picture.
Given the relative lack of familiarity with the Python, I'd suggest a good bit of dry firing as well as practice with .38 Special. Then run some Maggie loads through.
Numerous hunters have been quite successful with 154-grain bullets.
I was with my neighbor when we came across a deer that had been hit by a car, and whose legs had been reduced to bloody stumps. He got out to administer a coup de-grace and end the animals suffering with a .380 ruger LCP. As he approached and was drawing, the animal jumped up and took off running (on it's stumps) He fired 4 round while it was on the run, with all 4 connecting. You could tell by the puff of white smoke/dust off the deer with each shot, and with it's rear mangled legs kicking out with each shot that contacted.
Rounds were as followed: 1st BB 100gr hardcast +P, following three rounds of 90 gr hornady Zombie max. (Critical Defense) The deer continued to run into the tree line and we didn't give chase due to legalities and didn't want to appear as poachers. This was in a completely rural area as well.
After seeing this I had second thoughts about the .380 cartridge as a personal defense weapon.