.243 rifle with good scope 9mm full size handgun.
Not many scenarios these two guns wouldn't be able to keep up with and not any mammals on this continent that wouldn't drop from a fairly well placed shot.
Upgrade to .223 wylde for caliber availability and operability and this is an OK starting point.
A small cartridge for an accordingly small rifle, but one that permits the kind of accuracy that amounts to fast and clean kills. Popular among metallic silhouette and long range shooters for its low recoil and high accuracy. By no means an obscure cartridge, many manufacturers produce the 243 Win with every conceivable bullet type. More than six decades on the market means a great variety of rifles available.
Seems to address all concerns of OP.
.223 wylde gives access to .223 Rem + 5.56 NATO. Ultimate operability for replacement parts (barrel, etc) and ammunition.
243 Win is an obscure caliber compared to either of the above individually, let alone combined.
You may love your round in an endearing boomer-tier way, but it's bad advice for OP.
For self-defense, a full size 9mm handgun can be awkward to carry. Half the time when I carry a Glock 17 I think about buying a smaller gun like a G43 tor greater comfort.
Sorry you have small hands and/or weak forearms.
Shooting it is fine, it's appendix carrying a full size handgun that's uncomfortable. Walking around is OK but the moment I sit down in a car I have handgun prodding my abdomen.
Definitely enjoy my G43 for carrying. I couldn't imagine carrying my G19 much less a full size G17.
Mr. Sig
(post is archived)