What's your favorite caliber?

[Badgersmilk]

List any caliber (.380ACP, 9mm, .45ACP, .300 Win. mag., 105mm) if what you wish isn't shown.  But, please consider the many applications this round will need to fill.  

Politics what they are...  A day may well come when you really have to say.  "I can only take one with me!"

Try not to let action type, or what's currently in your posession influence.  Just practicality of the round itsself.  

"Is this at least acceptable for me to hunt small game, deer, other food sources with?"

"Can it stop a preditor / prowler / thief, and defend my life and family?"

"If the need to conceal the weapon arises can I hide some type of weapon capable of firing this round?"  (may be issues with 105mm)

[Timothy]

Based on the above criteria.

.357 Magnum....big enough and can be carried in a revolver or a carbine (my next purchase).  Proven to be more than enough for defense and can take down most game found in North America.

[Badgersmilk]

Let me pull .223 off there (I like to think it would get very few votes), and add "Magnum pistol calibers .357 & .44".

[fightingquaker13]

I have to say Badger you need to specify a bit more as to what you have in mind.
Takng the queston as written, as far as one gun, I don't think anyone will argue with me when I say the 12 gauge pump in either Remington or Mossberg/Maverick is always the answer. Anything from doves to Elk, or zombies, it will do the job. Ammo and spare parts are ubiquitous. It may not be the only gun you ever want, but its the only gun you'll ever need.
FQ13

[Badgersmilk]

What I have in mind would be.  All the guns you own are gone.  Were you only to be able to choose one caliber as a replacement, what would it be?

[Sponsor]

[billt]

I went with a 12 Ga. Easy choice. Plenty of power, and with todays fine choices of slugs you can take fur or feathers by just switching ammo. You can't do that with any rifle or handgun. If I could have only one it would be a 12.  Bill T.

[Hazcat]

I went with a 12 Ga. Easy choice. Plenty of power, and with todays fine choices of slugs you can take fur or feathers by just switching ammo. You can't do that with any rifle or handgun. If I could have only one it would be a 12.  Bill T.

+1

[Badgersmilk]

12 ga. is a great choice...  What could sway me would be options something like in the picture.  The old Tommy guns did well with .45ACP rounds as well!  Short on range though.  No need to change ammo with .44 mag.

[Timothy]

Hard to hide a 12 ga but for the balance of the equation it fits quite well and I have one with plenty of shells available.  

I can still stash a heck of a lot more .357 and .38 ammo in a smaller package.  I'm sticking with my original choice.

[fightingquaker13]

And hard on the ducks and rabbits. Plus, there is the spare parts and ammo thing I mentioned earlier. A remington .870 or mossberg, even in TEOTWAWKI, I'll still find them in every town in America.
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