If your not a proficient handgun shooter and needed to go immediately then I would definately go for pepper spray. However, if you have time to practice and can reload your own or afford to spend a little coin then I would go the SW 500. You can get a short nosed version and while out past 50 yards it probably wouldn't do ya much good. but practice and be able to place all six shots in center mass at around 20-30 yards and i would figure you would good to go.