Several Considerations
Distances ---> I look at handgun hunting kinda like hunting with a new/modern muzzle loader. The distances are fairly the same.
Terminal Energy ---> The terminal energy produced by a well loaded pistol/revo round will come equal to a M/L, or in some cases of the extreme in handgun performance,will out due it.
Scopes/Sights ---> A well made scope for a handgun(EER or LER)will not cost as much as a scope made for a rifle but they can be pretty pricey. This is extremely debatable but......for $350 or so you can get a "pretty good" handgun scope.
*Trigger ---> For the most part a handgun has a extremely slow lock time. For this, a well made/designed trigger is very important. A little creep is tolerated but let off should be fairly light, and you should have to endure NO over travel.
I have hunted with handguns for quite a few years. Revo's,auto's,and single shots are still a big part of my hunting. I have taken 300+lb boar hogs at 10ft with my Desert Eagle,moose,bear,and deer, at 30-50yds with my .444Marlin, and chucks and yotes at 300+yds with my .223's.
I now have a .243 Lone Eagle headed my way, and a scope that will hopefully complement the weapon. This will be my first .243 ever but have long admired the loading when kept within it's limitations. It will be a Fla. sized deer weapon and will be used from ladder stands,tent blinds,and shooting houses.
The NosPart will be my bullet of choice, but that brings up another topic of(sometimes rather HOT)discussion. Keep in mind the somewhat lowered velocities of a weapon spitting out a bullet from a shortened bbl. I look at it as a rifle with a 14"bbl. A weapon such as the T/C's have the appropriate amount of velocity loss......the revo's and gas operated auto's have even more. Off the shelf ammo will perform somewhat differently. More penetration,but not as much hydrostatic shock. Admittedly,at the closer ranges this will not matter a lot(?), but at the 200yd+ ranges that we sometimes try to stretch the shots to,it could make quite a difference. For the smalled deer,and no tracking snow,I would rather have a an exit wound than not. Hence my choice for the NosPart.
Your choice could/will vary,but at least keep this in mind when reloading or stopping by the nearest Wally World to pick up a box of hunting ammo for that super short bbl'ed "rifle".
Good huntin' -----pruhdlr