True there are 9mm and 380 and even .45's (take a look at Glock's Sub-compact pistols) the size of a twenty-two, but one they are louder and therefore draw more attention after the fact and two see arguement one about versatility. For an overall survival firearm I would choose the .22 pistol. Its not a pure self-defense gun. Its not the best hunting gun. Its a Swiss army knife. A swiss army knife has a decent blade and a decent saw, mediocre tweezers. It doesn't do a great job at anything. But it can be passible to decent at lots of things. Now were I in bear country, that's a different story.