Basically it boils down to how much recoil do you want/can you handle.
Also for many penetration is a factor, and I do consider it for an Urban load.

The 45 ACP has a pretty good reputation for self defense, so you are looking at a 185 gr bullet at @950 to maybe 1000fps, to a 230gr bullet at @810fps to maybe 950 for +P stuff.

So IMHO as long as your 44 Mag [or 44 Special, 41 Mag, 45 Colt], is doing at least the same, I think you are doing all that needs to be done.

If you can handle full power 44 Mag then use it. I do know back in the day that the Remington 44 Mag 240gr SJHP [Scalloped Jacketed Hollow Point] worked great in actual shootings. AS did the Speer 44 Mag 200gr HP.