Big, heavy, bowling-ball slinging handguns are fun to shoot and practical for woods carry if you have any need of such.

I've got a 7.5 inch Ruger Blackhawk, and a 4" 629, and I love them both. Probably the most fun handguns I have to shoot, and the 629 carries very easily in the field.

.44 is accurate, has manageable recoil unless you buy the silly stuff, and is reasonably affordable compared to any of the other big bore offerings, especially if you reload.

Thy are great guns, and simply tons of fun to shoot.

I really didn't appreciate the 44 mag till I started to reload for it. I was able to lighten up the load and it is more enjoyable.

44 Magnum is an awesome cartridge. It's yuge, it's fun and the fireballs are worth the price.

Try some Remington UMC 180 grain ammo. I am not sure if I like orange fireball or the massive blast better.

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Any practical purpose to getting into 44 mag?

Its main use, for which it was invented, is as a hunting cartridge. It would also be good for animal defense, although overkill for the most dangerous animal (man). But as a part of a sport and hobby, it doesn't need a practical purpose.

44 Magnum is a fun cartridge. If you reload your own ammunition, then I would get a revolver because you will be able to load ammo to any power level you desire, and you will be able to use both magnum and special cases. If you cast bullets, the revolver provides even greater versatility. By far, the most comfortable grip I have found for heavy recoiling handgun cartridges is the Ruger Bisley grip. I can shoot a large number of full magnum 310gr. rounds with my SBH Bisley with no discomfort. I cannot shoot nearly as many through the SBH with the regular SBH grip frame, nor from any double-action revolver. I don't have experience with the semi-autos such as the DE. I can tell you that the new polymer frame 10mm guns like the M&P are miserable to shoot for me if that gives you some frame of reference.