West Tennessee,Live on the Tennessee river, Great Bass, Crappie, and Catfishing. Deer, Duck, Turkey, rabbit hunting right here in the same county, within a 7 mile circle from my home. Lived in CO. for years didn't get to hunt much, now all I can think about is going Elk hunting. within the next couple years I'll go, also Canada Fly-in fishing for them monster pike. Would also like to fish for Steelhead in upper MI

The fact that you have already been shooting 22's up to .45's you have already covered the lightest to the big boy of carry guns. The thing that I tell everyone when it comes to handguns is that they require a lot of practice. That being said you need to get something that you can afford to shoot a lot. I switched from the .40S&W to the .45ACP and then to 9mm. I can afford to shoot a lot more 9mm than anything else but a .22. The choice of revolver or auto is up to you and what you like the best. There are +&- for both. I myself would push more toward an auto, the revolver for a couple of reasons, carry guns get dirty with everything, but dust, lint and gun oil is a big killer and revolvers are wide open for dirt and grime, Highcap Magazine vs six shooter, and unlike the earlier posts I believe autos are easier to use and operate. My wife and I both Law Enforcement use and love Glocks, there are a lot to choose from but there is more Glocks used by Police than any other handgun. There is also a size Glock for everyone, in every caliber you can think of. Now that is what I carry and advise anyone to carry, with a Kahr a close second. Caliber is not as important with a handgun as hitting what you’re aiming a lot of times. I know this will ruffle feathers but people can look at the stats. If you were shot in the heart with a 9mm or a 45 you wouldn't know the difference. TV cop shows and westerns have made it so that most people believe you just shoot everyone once and they just drop dead with a handgun. (of course there are exceptions) The truth is that more people die from wounds from a stabbing than pistol wounds.( Memphis Trauma Center) The handgun just don’t do enough damage. What a Handgun is, is convenient, and concealable. I think of my handgun as something to fight my way to my rifle and or shotgun. But you can’t strap that to your leg or put it in your purse. By all means carry a handgun when you’re out , but at home plan on the shotgun. The most important thing of all is to get good self defense firearm training to learn how to fight with a handgun. Putting a paper plate at 25 yds and shooting at it might help you on a hog hunt, but it’s not really practical self-defense practice. Don’t be one of those people who buy a gun a box of practice ammo and a box of hollow points, and never learn to really use the gun, or handle it safely. Check out FBI crime statistics they release them for every year.

You would get a big fat ticket in Tennessee for killing one!

I would get an Encore,(I don't know if thats how you spell it)you will have all the aforementioned, except it's a single shot. And you can by other barrels muzzleloader, shotgun, any rifle or pistol calibers, or even a pistolgrip and use it as a pistol in whatever cal. you want! And scope the barrels you want or leave Iron sites on the others. Just my .02