Hopefully I'm not going to see expert advice here from those who've never even see the west. I honestly think some posters here live in a fantasy world and if that statement ticks you off, I suppose the "shoe fits".
I can't and don't pretend to speak for "everyone" - just for me, my friends and my observations over the years. Neither do I believe my place is the same as everywhere else: different areas behave and conduct themselves differently according to local needs.
My place is in the high desert of Nevada. Its 10 miles to the nearest paved road and 27 miles to the closest "town". To say the least... ranges are "open".
I've owned my ranch for 13 years now and I've NEVER seen anyone tote a semi auto rifle out here. Yes, to be sure we've occasionally plinked with a few, and often fired them on out 1000-yard-plus rifle range; but they don't get carried on the trail or when prospecting in the deep desert.
And you can pretty well forget rifles that use detachable magazines as well. We have 'em, but they don't get "carried" unless we're heading into something that "could develop into a serious 'situation' ".
When heading out into the desert, most men tend to pack 45 ACP pistols on their belt and - if any - a short barreled lever rifle either in the saddle scabbard or (99.999% of the time) across the forks of their ATV.
My preferred rifles are 16" (Trapper length) pistol caliber carbines often matched with a DA Revolver of the same caliber - usually 44 Mag.