Russ... most 240 grain bullets will be just fine for killing deer with your .44mag! I would bump up to the 265 grain hardcast bullets from Beartooth Bullets for elk for your pistol. They have a very big metplate and penetrate very deep. You can check them out at Beartooth Bullets.com forum.
I would very much agree as to Beartooth putting out a great hard-cast bullet.
I happen to load their 300gr. WFNGCHC in front of H110 and WLP primers. I'm sure that the 265gr. as Tonk suggests, would be fine for elk, but I feel just a bit more secure with the 300gr. offering as WA state is only 2nd to AK in #'s of bears. 'More is better' isn't always necessary nor does it aways apply, but in this instance and for that reason, I'm comfortable with that decision.
Although I've not taken nor hunted elk with my 629, I have taken a Blacktail 2X2 with this load and 629 and it was very effective, as you might have guessed. One hole in and one hole out is, to me, not a disadvantage.
Good luck.
