It's hard to imagine a better SD .44 mag load than the Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo: 200 gr JHP at 1100 fps from a 4" barrel. Mild recoil combined with good expansion and great accuracy.

Greater velocity or energy is neither needed nor desirable for this purpose, but the 210 gr Silvertip load at 1200 fps is also a good load with mild recoil.