That's whats kewl about the everlasting quest for the perfect caliber, firearm and combination thereof . It's not possible to complete that goal. Trust me.....been trying for years. It started from and old copy of Mel Tappins (sp?) Survival Guns and has went south from there.
I've seen Eskimos and Bedouins with old .303 enfields get it done in fine form. Indians in South America, use a single shot topper 12 gauge for all their needs which includes some very large threats from big old kittens. Rangers in Africa use the FN to take lion and poacher alike. Albeit I have seen Winchester Model 70s with teeth marks completly through the mag floor plate I'd rather have a 460 Weatherby Mag vs 7.62Nato . But they make do just fine.
Hardcorp trappers and hunters use a simple .22 handgun to dispatch their game in most cases....... so depending on ones local needs I'd think a caliber with long range and a handgun of common caliber is something to "not" even try. My new stainless (inox) Ruger Number 1 in 45-70 will buck the wind with even the lightest of bullet weights for long range yote games, I have a 1.5x5X Leupold on it with QD Warne mounts and have recently had the grip cap modified to hold a New England Custom Guns # 100 peep sight that I use a Warne Inc adjustable diopter on in place of the original.
If the rugged chunk of optics from Leupold fails me I can pop it off quickly and replace it with the NECG peep that stays zeroed just fine. A simple stock sock w/ 9 spare rounds and a Uncle Mikes neoprene and nylon web sling makes it a fine rig for all I do around here. I have decided to have a Pachmyer Decelerator or maybe one of the new limbsaver recoil pads added as the Garrett hammerheads are stout.....It has more felt recoil than my 460 Weatherby Mag Tropical # 1 (rechambered from 458 Win). I suspect most of that is weight of the rifle of course. The little Number 1 ,45-70, is real light as the big tropical is like hauling 12 pounds of lead pipe around. I'm also experimenting with after market "hangers" that are key to accuracy with regards to the Ruger Number 1 rifles. Still tossing that around though.....:o)
The 45-70 has filled all my hunting and remote wheeling , camping and fishing needs thus far and the handgun I carry is selected based on the threat locally from 2 or 4 legged critters and worst case scenerio possible. Aside from a dangerous game backup handgun of the DA/SA versions I'll toss a small 357 Mag snub TiLite S&W in my pocket as a camp gun or to carry CHL/CCW style in the local resturant or in and out of the motel/hotels while on my hunting road trips.
Just more rant and rage from me in the aforementioned quest for the perfect doitall !.....
Stay Safe !