acorneau wrote:I know this wasn't one of the initial options but if I was shopping for an all-round rifle (defense, small game hunting, etc.) I would seriously consider a pistol-caliber carbine in 9mm.
Consider cost of ammo versus other calibers, ammo compatibility with pistols, strength for larger targets, easily used by smaller/weaker persons (youth, seniors, etc.), much more velocity than a pistol, easily suppressed, etc., it's not a bad option at all.
Have you given any thought to a M1 Carbine? Ballistics' considered, it's basically a 357 muzzle energy at 100 yards with factory ammo, brass is straight wall for long reload life .. Castlead and cat sneeze loads are an option if you don't mind manual cycling the weapon .. folding stock so it fits in a tennis racket case ( Gray Man for daytime movement), light easy to carry
Your basic 55 grain FMJ 5.56 will explode a rabbit or squirrel ..I hit a rabbit sitting at the base of tree once with a 5.56 all that was left was about 3 foot of a gory smear and another three feet of bloody spray going up the trunk of the tree and a bit light for sure meat from a deer.. shot placement becomes critical
22 LR for pot meat these are options, reload 22 LR:
https://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader.mysh ... loader-kit and rebuild any primer:
https://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader.mysh ... g-compound allows re-priming of rimfire ammo or rebuilding any berdan or boxer primer ... a whole lot lighter than carrying ammo and remember you can scrounge powder from any ammo that won't fit your guns if you use a little common sense... pistol to pistol and rifle to rifle and as similar a case size as possible.. a ladle to melt scrounged lead.. a lee loader for you caliber(s)
CMMG makes a good 22LR conversion for the AR