Need some sugestions

[Kurt]

Kurt, if you want to stay with a .44, what about the 44-60? Should be good for shilouttes and maybe mid range. If you want smaller, the 38-55 is always a good choice. Beyond that, the field is wide open. Anything your heart desires from .25 up to painful. .
Sam

Sam the little .44-60 Sharps or Peabody in it's original case dimensions would be the way I would go. It is a good caliber for midrange. But again the rim and base diameter is like the .44-77. I do have a bunch of .44 basic brass that has a .518 base diameter that is what the .44-60 use and that would not be a problem with the 44 1/2 because it is a short case and it would clear the hammer.
I like the wider cases that the .44 bottleneck cases have. I think that wider and shorter combustion chamber sets off the powder more efficiently held back by the neck restriction. I think that is why the .44-77 has always had a good reputation for accuracy by the old gun writers of the past.
You don't find to much written for the .44-60 in the old Forest and Stream and Forest and Outdoors.
Right now both the .38-55 and .44-60 are my top pick.

Kurt