redleg, you mention a couple of times wanting a rifle you are comfortable with. So it seems pretty clear to me you go with that. Who cares if it is a single shot, bolt, lever, semi... it's your rifle and your comfort.
Many of us here wandered into the the Handi world more-or-less by accident, and found it a comfortable place so we stayed. Doesn't mean we don't like being in other places. I have five Handis, three lever guns, three semi autos, one bolt gun, and three revolvers, and looking for a pump shotgun and another semi auto for a carry gun.
I'm comfortable with 'em all. Just that some years ago I went single shot for most of my shootin' activities, and I don't regret it.
As for your question... it's a
nope for me. I never saw it as an either-or single shots versus anything else anyway. When I bought my first single shot (a Topper 158 20ga/3030 combo) in 1980-ish my primary hunting rifle was a bolt action .308 Sako, and a Marlin 336 in 30/30 for the brush country.
I originally bought it because it was cheap, and I wanted a 20 ga for grouse hunting. But when I put the 30/30 barrel on and tried it just for fun, I saw how accurate I was with it. I started packing the Topper instead of the Marlin 'cause I was not only more accurate with it, but it was lighter, and handy to carry.
A short time later I picked up a .308 Ruger #1, and I started packing that over the Sako. Easier to carry, and just as accurate... etc. etc.
