I'm guess I'm going to have to go against the grain here, let me give y'all the back story first, let first state right up front that I'm a bonafide Marlinholic.
Back in 2005 I purchased a Marlin 1894SS .44 mag as a gift to myself upon redeployment. I thought that it was the bee's knees, light compact with lots of thump. The original intent of this rifle was as a foul weather and woods bumming rifle. It shot really well with the Win White box 240gr JSP ammo, which I really liked because it was about $21 at the time. I used it that year during deer season and smacked a good sized doe at about 80 yards. At the shot she humped up in classic fashion and bolted for the wood line. When I got down to the patch of dead golden rods she was standing in I couldn't find any signs of a hit. I searched and searched but didn't find anything.
The next weekend I went back out and took a really nice spike horn at about 40 yards. I went to where he was standing to look for spoor so I could begin tracking and again found nothing. At this poitn I just picked up his tracks in the snow and followed. I went about 30-40 yards before I started seeing any blood, and then it was only pin head sized droplets. I finally found him about 100 yards in, he almost made it to a swamp. Had it not been for the snow I'm sure I wouldn't have found him due to the super thick brush he ran into. A few days later I helped a friend track a deer that he shot in the same area that I shot at the doe. As I was following the blood trail of his deer I came across the remains of what I firmly believe was the doe that I shot at. My heart immediatley sunk to my stomach, and I couldn't believe that she traveled 200 yards from where I shot her from.
From that point I swore off the Win JSP for deer hunting. I went out and got everything that I needed to reload for my .44 soon after. I came up with a good load using a Max charge of H110 and a Hornady 240gr XTP-HP. I used that load back in 2010 to take a nice 4 point at a whole 30 yards. Before I shot the deer I was certain that the .44 with the load I was using was going to pole axe that buck. I put the cross hairs behind his shoulder and dropped the hammer. To my amazment and disbelief I watched as he ran down a small gully then laid down about 120 away. I tried to move close to put the buck down for good, as soon as I moved though he got up and continued deeper into the thick woods. I had no choice but to sit their fuming mad and watch the whole thing play out to the end. I've never had that happen to me using my .30-30, sure deer will often run after being hit I know that. But the performance of that rifle on 3 different deer peeved me off to no end.
Every deer taken with my .30-30 traveled no more than 50 yards tops, and left a blood trail a blind man could follow. In light of current events with the price hike on all ammo and components I couldn't justify keeping the .44 anymore. So I sent it packing and don't regret it one bit. The last few years I've gotten back to my roots. I hunt very thick woods and swamps here in the north, I like to sneak into where they live. As such a rifle doesn't offer any benifits, however a shotgun and slug sure does. More often than not a deer hit with a shotgun slug will take a instant dirt nap and I mean right now. Another plus is unlike certain ammo shotgun ammo is readily available. I was priceing .357 ammo and .44 ammo at the various stores in my locale and I couldn't believe the prices I was finding, even components are outrageous.
Well I did a lot research before I figured out what was going to replace that .44 mag. I finally setteld on a H&R 20 gauge Pardner and it is a dandy. It is simple, rugged and locks up like a bank vault. At the distances that I most commonly encounter deer it is way more than enough, and easily capable of reaching out to 100 yards if needed. Which is really the the max distance anyone should be shooting deer with a pistol caliber rifle too. I ended up taking a nice sized doe with the 20GA at approximately 50 yards. The performance was way better than the .44 rifle it replaced, she covered maybe 20 yards before collapsing. For a survival scenario I can't think of anything better than a shotgun. Again ammo is everywhere and still affordable. Here in the eastern woodlands there is nothing that a properly stoked 20 gauge or 12 gauge can't handle. It can take anything from small game on up to the biggest baddies that we have to offer. If you add some chamber adaters it only becomes more versatile. You then have the ability to shoot .410, .44 mag, .38/.357, 9mm, and .22LR.
This is of course based off my experiences. I know lots folks like and use pistol caliber carbines. I don't know why I had such bad luck but I did and it wasn't due to bad shot placement. But when it comes down to it at the end of the day nothing beats a good shotgun. In a survival scenario it can keep you fed on various types of game, as well as defend hearth and home if need be. Just some food for thought is all.
Doe taken with the 20GA Parnder
7 point taken with Mossberg 500 12GA at 30 yards, instant dirt nap where he stood
