I only had single stage in all my rifles (bolt guns) for over 25 years. I had shot a few AR's with the crappy mil-spec 2 stage triggers and hated em. When I bought my M1 Garand; a rifle I had wanted to own my entire life, I got my idea of 2 stage triggers changed. I watched videos and read...
So far all I've shot with it is a 100lb whitetail doe at 125 yards and the 270 Speer BTSP made a 1" exit wound and turned the lungs to mush. I plan on shooting a few more with it this fall with the 235 Speers and the 325 grain Maker subs
Suppressed with 325 grain Makers is absolutely Hollywood quiet. I wanted to do 350's or 400's but Paul said my 12 twist wouldn't stabilize em. The 325's hit like a freight train tho!
Bolt gun. I don't do AR's. I don't believe you're gonna loose as much as you think by dropping to 16", which is why I may chop mine down before deer season.
I did a 375 Raptor. I'm pushing a 270 grain Speer BTSP at 2450 fps in my 22" bbl. That's 3500 ft-lbs at the muzzle, 3000 ft-lbs at 100, and 2500 ft-lbs at 200 yards. I wanted a hard hitting thumper that I could also reach out to 300+ with if need be. I looked at all the options you listed but...