Even the eggspurts get it wrong sometimes...
From Handloader 236 (Aug-Sep 2005) Handloading the 44 Special by Brian Pearce:
"The second category (22,000 psi) includes the Colt Single Action Army, New Frontier SAA, Charter Arms Bulldog and USFA SAA-pattern revolvers that are US Manufactured." ... "the Charter Arms Bulldog has proven strong enough to handle these loads, but to prevent premature loosening, they should be used somewhat sparingly."
"The third category (25,000 psi) includes S&W Third Model Hand Ejector, or model of 1926, 1950 Target, Model 696 and 396 Titanium, Colt New Service and Shooting Master, and Freedom Arms 1997, 357 Model Blackhawk converted to 44 Special is also suitable" ... "the S&W L-Frames feature five-shot cylinders with bolt notches located between the chambers, resulting in strong chambers...the factory conducted some rather strenuous torture tests wherein the Model 696 easily endured the pressures well beyond anything we will present here"
From Handloader 312 (February-March 2018) Pet Loads .44 S&W Special +P by Brian Pearce:
"Not all .44 Special sixguns are suitable for handloads that exceed SAAMI pressure guidelines of 15,500 psi, which I will refer to as +P. Guns that should not be used with the accompanying +P data include....S&W 696 and 396 Ti Mountain Lite, Charter Arms Bulldog..."
OOPS. So you downgraded the 696 & 396 from being handle to handle "pressure well beyond anything we will present here" including the 25,000 PSI Category III loads to now being unsuitable for anything beyond SAAMI pressure guidelines of 15,500 psi. And what can be said of the Bulldog, which you said can handle category II loads? Have you forgotten what you wrote 13 years prior?
Glad I went with a N-frame for 44 Special. I would also be leery of that GP100 in 44 Special for the same reason. It's about the same size as the L-frame Smith.