"OK, now I’m leaning to 44 so how about point of aim? How close do the current offerings come to dead on? The standard Colt percussion habit of hitting a foot or so high will cut to deeply into my grouse hunting, I aim for the neck but settle for head shots."
Kent,
I cannot directly answer your question as asked. Because I used my 44OT for CAS shooting, not target. What I can say is that the OT 7 1/2" barrel with Navy grips is a very 'pointing friendly' revolver. It is comfortable in the hand and points easily. With that said, mine shot were I aimed at, at standard 7 to 15 feet distances, but not pinpoint accuracy. It did not have the issue of hitting 6 to 12 inches high or low, using a standard 44Russian load. Also the Richards Type II in 44Spec with 8" barrel, shooting my slightly over standard loads of 44Spec, surprised me in the same manner. Shot where I was trying to hit, not the extremes like it parent percussion version.
All my shooting is one handed only.
I did not have to do any front sight filing to move impact points for my CAS size targets and defense style shooting. But with your experience, I do believe you would not have issues doing any modifying, if yours' was not to your satisfaction.
The 44 OT and conversions are versatile in cartridge and bullet weight options. 44Spec, 44Colt, 44Russian casings with bullet weights from 200 to 251grs. I load to original / traditional velocities and weights.