Im am in the process of applying for wilderness carry for my work but with covid I wont be able to go the course this year so its likely to be pushed off.
I chose a gp100 in 357 mag.
My decision making process went like this:
The firearm is my final line of defence, there are several things going on in my SOPs to avoid a bear encounter, then deter a bear before a firearm might be used
Calibre: im not a big guy. Recoil is a consideration and hits on target are more effective than theoretical energy and wound channel size. If jumped it could very well be single handed shooting. 10mm or 357 mag. Hot loads
Pistol vs revolver. This came down to debris contamination. I move through the bush to track specific lines. Whatever is in my way, no matter how thick, snaggy or dirty or wet I must go through to keep my gps track accurate. I get absolutely covered in crap. A revolver has more tolerance for debris and contamination in its function. Also with all the bumping a jostling, a mag might get released while in holster. A draw in an emergency may leave no time for a mag tap.
Is a pistol generally faster? Yes.
Is higher energy and larger bullets more damaging? Yes
However, practical results beats theory every time when it hits the fan. The best gun on paper and the best gun in a fight can be different.
The best gun is a gun that functions no matter what and that YOU can consistently get on target with every shot
If I were a hunting guide, or going fishing or flying in the bush, I would probably choose a different setup.