22MAG. self defense ....

[duckman1911]

Any gun is better than no gun. Would it be my first choice? Nope. Will it work? Absolutely. Recoil being very light would allow you to dump accurate rounds into a target quickly. The downside being you will have an empty gun fairly quick. That cylinder full would most likely get you through the initial threat and allow you to grab the 12ga for clean up work or for neutralizing additional threats.
Always remember that a handguns purpose is to fight your way to a long gun. Keep the 12ga close at hand. My bump in the night guns are a short barrel 12 with 5 rnds of 00 and a SBR in 5.56 with 25 rounds. It's just my wife and I at home so as long as she is still in bed beside me everything else is a target.