WestKentucky
Member
First thing to think about is to quit overthinking. The selection method goes like this...these are the options I have, these few are the best suited for the threat. Of those, these are the two or three I shoot well (and quickly). Of that final group it's down to which one you feel like toting around and beating against the bushes, briars, and rocks in the terrain. Your AR 10 sounds like a winner from what little I know about you. I would hate to haul that kind of weight around though.
If your worried about learning curve on a 44 mag you need to quit overthinking that too. Get a double action that points halfway naturally and pull the trigger. Put 20 rounds through it each day for a couple weeks and go fishing. FWIW there's not a semiauto pistol made that I would trust, but I would certainly be satisfied with any 41, 44, 454, 460, 480, 500 etc. I would toss 45 Colt in too but there are a few cowboy guns out there I wouldn't fool with. Most 45 da revolvers would be good though.
If your worried about learning curve on a 44 mag you need to quit overthinking that too. Get a double action that points halfway naturally and pull the trigger. Put 20 rounds through it each day for a couple weeks and go fishing. FWIW there's not a semiauto pistol made that I would trust, but I would certainly be satisfied with any 41, 44, 454, 460, 480, 500 etc. I would toss 45 Colt in too but there are a few cowboy guns out there I wouldn't fool with. Most 45 da revolvers would be good though.