I dunno if I'd call the carbine the best self defense weapon by a LONG shot.... We've shot a lot of hogs with them and have never been impressed, I'd take a light short AR ANY day over that 30 carbine round. And I"ve been much more impressed with my carry kimber on hogs, 45 acp.
I've shot a carbine all the way to 200 yards a LOT in practice matches and such, just ain't much of anything IMHO.
That being said I've hunted deer with a 32-20 the last year and been happy, its an antique but its far from what I'd call the ideal deer round even though I took 2 deer and a javelina with it.
Jeff