I had a Rossi ,44 Magnum, and it ran fine with .44 Specials. Dunno why your rifle wouldn't run with them. I mostly used the 200gr. Flat nosed cowboy bullets in it, or 240gr. XTP HPs. It shot well enough. My stepbrother borrowed it and killed some deer with it I never got the chance to do so, but it sure worked for him.

I did kill some small game with it, mostly just fiddling around.

You can roll a turd in peanuts, dip it in chocolate, and it still ain't no damn Baby Ruth.