i have narrowed mine down to three for my area.........
#1 7.62x54r
#2 7.62x25
#3 .410
these represent a simplification of what was a multi-caliber over specialized aresenal......i now use 54r for all my big game and TEOTWAWKI scenarios.....the hot 7.62x25 is now my only pistol cartrige for portable urban defence and TEOTWAWKI.....the .410 is my small game and foraging cartrige......KISS KISS.........

 

For my area I use :
30.06
7.62x39
.22 LR

 

270 Win (130gr. Silvertips)
40 S&W (165gr. Gold Dot HP)
12 gauge (task-specific loads)

 

currently: 44 mag for deer/bear
12 guage for all else
22lr or slingshot for small game

but I stock 308,357 & 38,9X18,9X19,7.62X39

 

hunting calibers

My Hunting Calibers.

12 gauge
280 Remington
22 long rifle

I have taken all kinds of east texas game with these three calibers. The only other caliber I would replace that 280 with is another deer hunting caliber, such as a 30/30, 308, 270 or 30-06.

 

http://www.chuckhawks.com/advice_traveling_hunter.htm

Having read that and the other posts:

1) 22lr
2) 12ga
3) 30-06
4) 7.62x39
5) 5.56x45
6) 9mm
7) 45ap
8) 375H&H
9) 50BMG
10) 243Win

You can kill anything shy of dangerous and large game with a 22 with the right bullet and placement. Just can take a few shots and time with medium sized. Consider this, it's the #1 round for everything, and the poachers #1 by even further. Same for 12ga. but minus everything but the dangerous game. Both are common.

30-06 is the #1 round in the world after that (except maybe Somali and Sudan and Colombia and such). I've seen it everywhere. AK ammo is cheap and plentiful, maybe more so than the '06, maybe. 375 is common too, and very potent. 50BMG is useful for long shots, common in Western backed countries. Rest is explainatory.

7.62x54r is good also, and commonly overlooked. I've never had one fail to fire in a Mosin-Nagant, ever. Period. Not said for even the AK. There are more Mosin's floating around than even the M-16 family. It was also my first gun. I'd grab a Mosin before ANY other gun in the whole world bar none, except in urban. Then I'd grab an AR, AK, RPK or SAW. Up close, a knife is #1 over anything.

I guess it depends.

 

7.62mm (308)
22LR
12ga


7.62x51mm pulls double duty for hunting and defense. My current issued weapon is an M14 as well.
12ga sees very limited use for hunting in my current locale.

Pic of my two favorite hunting/everything else rifles..

 

Saaaweeeeet 308!

 

I like to keep it light as possible

Glock 22 [with spare .357 barrel]
M4 5.56 [or SKS or AK]

or conversely

Ruger Single-Six .22mag [w/.22LR spare cylinder]
Remington 870 [or Winchester 1300 Defender]

or

H&K USP .45
Ruger 77/44 stainless synthetic .44mag
The Ruger 77/44 can be utilized with .44 Special cartridges for almost complete silence from the 18" barrel

carry as much ammo and as many mags as you can hump

 

Anyone ever try a .44 Mag revolver and a .44 Mag rifle? Now that's quite a combo!

 

Yes, but it was a few yrs ago. Rifle, and pistol were both Rugers. (The Ruger Deerfield was an outstanding little brush gun, and was easy to tote around in the Ozarks, after whitetail deer, and hogs.

 

"Favored Cartridges"

Can I try a cherry please. Tho grape would be cool too.

 

would it be a bad idea to hunt whitetail deer with an AR15 (rem .223)?

 

If U have a close shot and also a good shot. I also have an AR-15 and posed the same question to some experienced deer hunters and they all agreed, be close.

 

.300 WSM
5.45x39 mm
.40 S&W
12 GA
22 LR
are my go too, but I am not limited too the above.

 

308
.22lr

 

1. 7.62x54r
2. 22 lr
3. 410
4. 12 ga

 

i would stay within 75 yards, but there are people in the vecinity that wouldnt use anything less than a .50.

 

7.62X39
.45 ACP
30.06
and the .577