Just thought of something germane....

Castner's Cutthroats of WW2 fame carried 22LR handguns for harvesting game.

For those who are asking who were Castner's Cutthroats?

During World War II Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands (Alaska). Castner's Cutthroats were a group of outdoorsman that were recruited to serve as scouts and scout/snipers in the islands.

They were NOT supplied regularly by the military. They were required to "live off the land" and did a great job of it.

In fact, when the "big army" showed up to repeal the invasion, CC's ended up having to feed the beleaguered men.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castner%27s_Cutthroats

"Standard issue for Castner's Cutthroats was a Trapper Nelson pack, hunting knife, .22LR caliber target pistol and a sniper rifle, instead of the standard issue Springfield rifle, or M1 Garand. However, when it came to firearms, personal preference was the deciding factor. Al Brattain, a crack shot, preferred the M1 Garand because its reduced recoil did not spoil his aim. Trapper Nelson packs held all their supplies for their long mountainous treks. They lived off the land, which allowed them to stay light, unlike most military units of the time. To move from island to island, the men used canoes, from which they fished for salmon. The salmon was dried and stored for the winter, furthering the unit's ability to stay out in the field."