The handgun has its use's the rifle as well, the handgun is loud and ammo velocity dropps off the rifle has longer sight radius (better hit probibility at longer range) also milks all the velocity from the round the handgun wont, Its a survival situation you want all you got working for you not aginst- Why drag around a 'loud' 'low velocity' gun you have to get in close to use as far as I can see all are not assets
if portability is a issue use a carbine.
in survival situation use passive stelth like snares and deadfalls and traps can operate in lousey weather, in dark, at times the day you are just not there.
The idea is for you to collect food without calling attention to yourself, you are not out hunting (leaving tracks and risk being spotted)and at risk to life and health burning calories you need to survive, let a passive trapping system work for you instead.
A digital game camera would be perfict, set it in prospective spots and see what really happens when your not around, I do know during hunting season that deer switch to a diffrent pattern, at night they still feed in there regular spots (deer are excellent nocturnal browsers)
having to hunt at nite, into the wind, quiet mode (risking injury) at a distance from home base as you'd not want a bloody kill site not far from your den, its best to use a trap espcially far away from your hidey hole, then you have the meat, how ya gonna stor it? how about varmints like bobcat, coyote, fox messing up your spots and them raiding your bone pile.
