by big animals, guys. Don't kid yourself about that. Chest hits MIGHT suffice, but often, 100 lb deer run off with 3006, 45-70, and 12 ga slugs to the chest, if they are adrenalized when they are hit. Obviously a bear, etc, that is charging you is adrenalized. 
So the "advantages" of a 12 ga, 45-70, etc, are grossly overestimated for defense vs big animals. and such guns are SEVERELY handicapped when it comes do doing other things. the 45-70 or 375 are nearly worthless on small game (of which there's much more than deer or caribo). Big animals, shot in the summer, are a TON of work to get that meat preserved, and most small critters do not survive predators, etc, to the winter. So warm weather is the time to eat small game. They lack the fat to be of much food value if they are taken in the winter.
The .22 makes far more sense for small game than the 12 gauge, because you can carry 12 as many rds for the same bulk and weight, and the .22 is much more quiet (especially if it's a subsonic load and silenced.
You can't carry more than one longarm, along with a backpack. When you have a longarm (especially when others have rapidfire longarms, like if shtf) the pistol better have a very minor role. You'd better keep that M4 on the assault sling! Laying aside that too heavy 30 caliber is going to get you killed.
I do favor having a pistol, for use inside of a vehicle, a tunnel, or sleeping bag, or as you rappel, climb a tree, etc. But it should be a pocket 9mm, and just 2 mags of ammo, not 5 lbs of .44 or .45 and ammo.
You do not have to settle for JUST a .22lr, or JUST a centerfire. Several companies make .22lr conversion units (30 rd box mags) for various 223 semiauto rifles.
So the "advantages" of a 12 ga, 45-70, etc, are grossly overestimated for defense vs big animals. and such guns are SEVERELY handicapped when it comes do doing other things. the 45-70 or 375 are nearly worthless on small game (of which there's much more than deer or caribo). Big animals, shot in the summer, are a TON of work to get that meat preserved, and most small critters do not survive predators, etc, to the winter. So warm weather is the time to eat small game. They lack the fat to be of much food value if they are taken in the winter.
The .22 makes far more sense for small game than the 12 gauge, because you can carry 12 as many rds for the same bulk and weight, and the .22 is much more quiet (especially if it's a subsonic load and silenced.
You can't carry more than one longarm, along with a backpack. When you have a longarm (especially when others have rapidfire longarms, like if shtf) the pistol better have a very minor role. You'd better keep that M4 on the assault sling!
Laying aside that too heavy 30 caliber is going to get you killed.I do favor having a pistol, for use inside of a vehicle, a tunnel, or sleeping bag, or as you rappel, climb a tree, etc. But it should be a pocket 9mm, and just 2 mags of ammo, not 5 lbs of .44 or .45 and ammo.
You do not have to settle for JUST a .22lr, or JUST a centerfire. Several companies make .22lr conversion units (30 rd box mags) for various 223 semiauto rifles.
