Depends on what you want to have done and how fast you need it back. There are 2 different gunsmiths in Billings that I have used a lot and I would personally recommend. One is geared more towards new custom builds while the other is geared towards modifications and repairs. Send me a PM if...
Get yourself a 460 Rowland conversion for that XDS and you will be very close to 44 Mag performance with 10 rounds in the clip. Carry it in a chest holster and never take it off. Sidearm or bear spray does you no good on your pack that is 2 arm lengths away from you when you are gutting an elk...
On your last tub of meat you are stuffing - place a piece of wax paper over the meat and put a very thin towel or paper towels over the wax paper then proceed to move the piston down. You will still have a small portion of meat on the bottom of tub but no where near a 1/2 lb.
Been freezing for months before butchering for many years. No problems what so eve.
Now that we have proven cases of CWD in our deer, moose, and elk I think it'll become the norm as you'll want to wait for the CWD test results before processing
Things were different then. We still had the draft that made men out of boys - you had no choice. I went to a small engineering college that it was mandatory ROTC (Army) back then for your first 2 years. You could then choose to get out and just be a student or "go advanced" for your last 2...
What is your status on a 401K, conventional IRA, or Roth IRA? If you have a mortgage you could put monthly amounts towards the PITI.
If you use an accountant to do your financials, have you discussed this with him/her?
There is no magic answer where one size fits all but my compliments to you...
Played 4 years of football and graduated from Tech back when things were not so politically correct. Got banned from the local radio station for a few games for some not too appropriate cheers at basketball game versus BH (I.E.: Typewriter Tech). 😂
Have carried one for many years. After using one for a few thousand practice rounds it becomes second nature knowing what the wind will do to a bullet path.