I have really enjoyed my Ruger Single Six with 5.5" barrel in .32 H&R nestled in a shoulder holster as my woods gun. I keep it on me when I ride my ATV on the farm and when scouting for hunting or trapping. I've used it to shoot a coyote, bag a rabbit, and dispatch a wounded, gut-shoot deer.
With the .32 H&R you can download it to almost .22LR levels or hot-rod it to a level that constitutes a serious self-defense load.