User blog comment:Griever0311/Ask A Marine: Hammerdown/@comment-1462637-20100426043715

@ Darth

Ohh.. thats not a big issue for me. I'd say .45 for defense, its got enought stopping power at close range. For recreational stick with something small (.22) until you want to spend some money on ammunition, then go for .308 for long range shooting, and 7.63x39 or 5.56x45 for shorter ranges.