If it makes the cartridge legal to use, than that's good for you. Otherwise, I wouldn't be too worried about the foot pounds. A heavy .357 bullet of proper construction penetrates well, so placed properly it should be all right for deer sized game under 100yds. I don't know what your definition of "big game" is, but I wouldn't shoot anything that might bite back with a .357. The cartridge is marginal for medium game such as pigs and deer.