if you're concerned about stopping something in it's tracks, the bigger the better. but to quote my dad, he said something to the effect of "the .45 ain't no sniper weapon. it's meant to drop somebody on their face at close range as a last resort. if that chunk of lead hits you, you're going down." he was referring to the army's use of it.
i personally just take a browning buckmark 22 lr. this is just incase i have to finish off a dying deer and can get a close range shot behind the ear so i won't to use another expensive rifle round. i've never had to do this and hopefully never do, but just in case... plus it's fun to hunt small game with.
but, then again, there are no bear here or any other animal that would really attack aside from an aggro dog. the only dangers i really face in the woods are idiot hunters so my money would be better put in a bullet proof vest
