Remove bears from the equation. I have no experience. If I had a 642. If I didn't have the means to buy anything else. If the 642 meant I would always have a gun. I would load it with either 158 lswc or 148 full wadcutters. Both of these round have less recoil than many of the mentioned loads. Both can be fired accurately even from a snub. Both of these can be found relatively inexpensive so you could practice regularly. Both penetrate and will make holes for blood to leak from. Is a 642 the best woods gun? No is a 642 better than nothing? Yes