Shot placement shot placement shot placement,,,, and don't get into an engagement in the first place! I'm with mountain on this, when i was a kid when i went hunting or fishing it was to put meat on the table. I have dropped dear with a .22 i don't think i would take on a black bear with it. I have shot frogs (my kind of frog giggin') the .22 is the most practical rifle you can have. When the big game is hunted out, hows that .223 or 7.62 going to work on squirrels, rabbits, rats, frog, turtle, and cats?