I went with a 3" Model 629 Deluxe as my new "Dedicated Woods Gun"... My woods carry load of choice is a 300 grain Semi-Jacketed Lead Flat Point from PRVI Partizan... For me it's the perfect weight, length, and balance. I carry it in a Desantis OWB leather holster @ 4:00 both in the woods and a lot of times around town back home too. A black bear or Meth Monkey isn't going to know the difference between a 3" or a 4" .44Mag with that aforementioned load I can assure you! Around town its stoked with 200 grain Gold Dots in .44Special loadings... But I certainly realized the difference between a 4" and a 3" "N" frame in regards to CCW. Obviously, this 3" .44Mag carries noticeably better and I've gotten quite good with it. Whatever your choice you're going to want to put 4-5 cylinders of Full-House Loads each and every range session. I deleted that miserable lock simple enough too...