A .22 that hits, is way more effective than the .44 mag that misses. I know a grandmother that can empty her .22 LR revolver into your left eye at 25 feet and do it under combat shooting conditions. I did 6 years in the US Infantry and she is just scary good with that .22
That being said, if you want to know what is actually effective carry. .32 / .380 are all small and surprisingly effective. .357 (sig) / 9x19 and 9x23 are a bit larger, and more “BANG” requiring a slightly larger rig for control. However, they tend to do more damage.
Actual shooting reports tend to show that once you get into the .40 or 10mm range or higher, accuracy drops off and thus is not quite as effective as the smaller rigs.
As for carry, look at the cellpal rig (do a google search on the word, I'm at the office and they block "firearm" related sites). It is a cross draw but it can be worn in just about all situations and does not print.
That's the funniest damn thing I've read all morning!