Read the FAQ section here. Do it, even if you have no troubles. There is lots and lots of information there about scopes, mounts, trigger jobs, etc. As far as ammo, it sounds like you are going to hand load heavy cast bullets. Slug your barrel to find out exactly what your bore size is. Cast bullets usually shoot best when they are .001" - .0015" over bore. If you buy a new 44 Mag it can only be fitted with a 357 Mag or some of the shotgun barrels. I have both the 44 mag and a 357 Mag reamed to Max, both on SB2 frames. I like both, but I prefer the versatility of the 357 Max. That is just my personal preference. Good Luck and Good Shooting