What's your favorite caliber?

[Ping]

I choose ICBM. I know it is not on the list, but it is the end of all ends.  There are some great choices on the list. It depends on the person and how well they can utilize what they have. There are people who can shoot some of these choices better than others. I know I can do some damage with a .22 Long Rifle. Others could not hit the broad side of a barn. But since I cannot make two choices on the poll I will do it here. And the winner is.......

[fightingquaker13]

Or in other words, love the one you're with. Good words of advice sir. I think that most of us could reach blindfolded into our closets/gun safes and come up with something more or less adequate to most situations. The key is learning to use all of them to best effect, .22 to .308 to .357 to 12 gauge.If  the question were changed fom "what would you take with zero prep or warning" to "what could you do with what you were randomley assigned", we could have a very useful discussion as well.
FQ13

[Texas_Bryan]

A 12ga is short-ranged with heavy recoil, heavy bulky ammunition and much of it's so-called versatility is little more than hype from various weapon and ammunition manufacturers. Each of the calibers listed have advantages and disadvantages as do the weapons that fire them. There is no such thing as the perfect weapon, nor a perfect caliber and pretending otherwise is a waste of time and effort. You can either pick the best weapon available to do the job you need to or use what you have to the best possible effect. 

That said, what would you use if it had to service every situation?  And I would argue that its versatility is very useful and very real, while there is a lot of salesman talk to get some one to buy a certain buckshot over others, its no more than dozens of 'accu tips' and 'expansion controlling devices' on pistol and rifle rounds.  Which caliber here do you think has the greatest advantage as far as capabilities and delivery system in any foreseeable situation?

[Kid Shelleen]

.357 magnum hands down for me.

Still the best single shot manstopper handgun round. All my years in healthcare I only saw one .357 wound and he didn't make it. The rest went to the morgue. I have seen survivors of .44 mags that went in and out. I've seen many shotgun wounds where the patient survived. I even had a patient that was shot 5 times with a 45 acp who walked away (granted he was young and strong and was with us for over 4 months and endured many surgeries and a lot of rehab). Any caliber can kill. I've seen deaths fron 22 cal. and one from a 25 cal.

.357 is easy to carry anywhere in a holster. Ammo is easy to carry. It's a good hunting round with 38 spl. for smaller game. More accurate and better range than a shotgun. A long barreled revolver is very accurate.

Easy personal choice for me, if I can only have one firearm.

[Badgersmilk]

OK here.  Ping, I think MANY would agree with you on .22lr...  Its added as an option.  ICBMS dont leave much meat for eating on small game or large...

True.  nobody should only train with one single weapon, or have knowledge of only one weapon...  Thats not the poll though.  If you only got one choice.  What are you using?  The whole safe is a little hard to carry and use all at the same time, and though you may have 100 guns to choose from, or none at all.  From your personal knowledge, which CALIBER is most practical IN YOUR OWN OPINION for all possible scenarios?  We know none are perfect.  Just which one would you choose?

TAB...  A 16 gauge???    I dont think you'll have to worry about anyone trying to steal your ammo so long as they know what it is anyway...  It's a valid choice!

Dont forget.  .44 mag is available in even factory loads at velocities as low as .45 ACP's, and you can fire anything from a 180 grain, to a 300 grain XTP hollow point at all kinds of velocities!  .44's are all about versatility.

[Sponsor]

[Kid Shelleen]

OK here.  Ping, I think MANY would agree with you on .22lr...  Its added as an option.  ICBMS dont leave much meat for eating on small game or large...

True.  nobody should only train with one single weapon, or have knowledge of only one weapon...  Thats not the poll though.  If you only got one choice.  What are you using?  The whole safe is a little hard to carry and use all at the same time, and though you may have 100 guns to choose from, or none at all.  From your personal knowledge, which CALIBER is most practical IN YOUR OWN OPINION for all possible scenarios?  We know none are perfect.  Just which one would you choose?

TAB...  A 16 gauge???    I dont think you'll have to worry about anyone trying to steal your ammo so long as they know what it is anyway...  It's a valid choice!

Agreed that the .22lr is a good option but that still makes me think rifle over handgun for the most part (Ping were you thinking rifle?). If this is a bugout scenario with only one choice, I don't want to lug any rifle or shotgun around on an everyday basis. That's why I'm putting my .357 in a holster, grabbing all the ammo that I can carry and I'm heading for the hills.

[Ping]

Badgersmilk, you forced my hand... I would still go with the .22 Long Rifle. Anyone in my family can shoot it and they can become proficient without fear of recoil but also harvest meat for the table. As for home defense, I would leave it up to God whether my shot was true or not to fend of a bad guy/gal or more. Very versatile and "the bang" does not disturb the neighbors as much as other calibers. Beyond that, I would use my trusty recurve or compound bow.
But in reality, I carry my .45 ACP religiously, ,40 S&W as another choice along with one 9mm or .380, which I would rather use as a back up. Remington 870 shotguns as in close defense and one AR-15 as my intended medium range gun. Still shopping for the .308 or 30-06 to add to the collection for longer range purposes. Given my dilemma and inability to make a adequate decision. So, I will stick with the .22 Long Rifle.  

[Badgersmilk]

Kid,  Hold on there soldier.  Nobody said we're necesarily bugging out anywhere!  BUT.  The possibility of you needing to conceal your weapon at a random time in the future is VERY GOOD no matter what may befall us.  You may only have to hide it from a passing vehicle, or you may be hiding it on your person as walk out the door while your home is searched by hand (questionable logic I grant you!).  But we wont know such details until such a day should come.

Ping, My aplause and respect to you for having enough sack to pick the .22!  I just picked up the G&A special edition called "complete book of rimfires" today.  As stated in the magazine, MANY people argree with your choice!

[Kid Shelleen]

Ping,

Have you ever seen the Henry 22lr. survival rifle? The barrel fits into the stock with room for ammo. The whole package is waterproof. Pretty cool at a very reasonable price.

http://www.henryrepeating.com/h002_survival.cfm

[Rob10ring]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ievbU3xIYGQ
The 12 GA has more versatility than some may think.

Tactical Shotgun Courses like those offered at Firearms Training Associates here in CA, or at Gunsite train to use shotguns out to decent medium range. Gunsite also has a tactical shotgun video that is great. Personally, I don't find the recoil to be so bad, even with full power slugs (especially with adrenaline), so in a situation that doesn't require concealment, it's the shotgun. Plus with ammo shortage, all I can find around here is shotgun shells. Walmarts in our PC area (the OC) don't carry handgun ammo.

Maybe there will be a situation where we don't have a choice. Maybe a dropped gun scenario.