S&W 629 .44mag 8 and three eights inch barrel.

My S&W 7 shot 686 6 inch stainless in .357 has been a faithful companion on my hip in the wolf, cougar, and bear infested mountains of Idaho. I hit what I aim at, and it doesn't weight me down as badly as some of the larger magnums.... 158 grain semi Flat Point Oregon Trail Laser Cast Silver bullets loaded over a stiff dosage of Lil Gun seem to penetrate into the vitals of about any animal I encounter around my neck of the woods out to 100 yards or so....

Freedom Arms 454.

T/C Contender .44mag,30TC,7mm Waters,.30-30,.270,.30-06

Super Blackhawk in barrel length appropriate to the task at hand.

As much as I like Super Blackhawks and various versions of the M-29, I would have to go with the Freedom Arms single action revolvers. Regardless of caliber they have at least two things that everyone agrees on: high quality and high price. Unfortunately the last piece keeps me from buying one. I would pay that much for a rifle but somehow can't bring myself to ante up a couple grand for a revolver.
Even if in the rare event that you locate a used one it is still unacceptably expensive. I suppose that speaks highly of the inherent quality.

DakotaMan: Long ago I got John Linebaugh to help out with my old model Super Blackhawk three screw 7 1/2". After much persuading he agreeded to cut the barrel back to 4 5/8" and put an absolutely outstanding trigger job on it. This makes an awesome revolver to pack when walking or horseback. I carry it in a reworked Bianchi holster in crossdraw fashion. With this carry I can easily reach the gun with a coat on, if I encounter a bear and have to assume the "fetal position" I might be able to pull the .44, and I can glance down to see if it is still in the holster after a fall or a bucking horse episode. But as you mentioned the muzzle blast with HOT 265 gr hard cast wide meplat bullets is horrendous as is the flame of the 296 residue. Five quick rounds from this little piece makes you and everything around you think that the gates of hell were temporarily opened so we all can feel the heat and say a prayer. I really don't notice any increase in recoil although physics dictates that there should be more than a 7 1/2 incher. I learned to prefer the weight in hand balance of the shorter barrel although it felt a bit odd initially.

Ruger RedHawk in 44 Magnum is great for anything from antelope to Moose. For the bigger things I would say the BFR revolvers chambered in 444 Marlin , 450 Marlin or 45/70 Govt.

I inherited what was my dream revolver as a kid from my Dad, a Ruger Redhawk .41 Magnum with a 7 1/2 inch barrel. It shoots like a dream, and is more accurate than I am. Recoil on the loads I have used is pretty minimal, and it is altogether a sweet gun. Love it.

I have extensive hunting experience with the following three revolvers... Smith & Wesson 627 N Frame - .357 Magnum - w/scope, Smith & Wesson 629 N Frame - .44 Magnum - w/scope, Smith & Wesson 500 X Frame - .500 S&W Magnum w/scope... and when I go hunting with a handgun I carry all three with me.
It all depends on what my game is, and what predators are in the field. Some areas, a Model 627 is considered illegal for taking game due to it being too small of a caliber (but great for taking down predators). The Model 500 is the ultimate game weapon, but the starter of this thread excluded the X-Frame models (why? Perhaps due to the retail price, mine is "second hand" because five rounds ONLY were fired in it, by someone with no large frame handgun experience, and the price was half retail).
So the Model 629 is the only weapon that is legal in every jurisdiction in the United States for Game Hunting. So if I MUST exclude the Model 500, the Model 629 is my choice for a handgun for all size game and predators if I must have only one.
But, I believe in the Model 500 because it is a "sniper revolver" or "hunter revolver"... where if you are a true hunter, it should be a situation where cruelty never occurs, so "one shot, one kill". A Model 627 or Model 629, while you can do the same... you must be much closer for a similar effect or have a heavier grain load and different bullet.