Some surprising developments here I think!
I have tallied the results as of post #102 and I am kind of surprised by a couple of things. I will start by posting the top five pick in each of the 3 categories.
Small/Varmint category:
1) 22LR with 37 votes
2) 223 with 37 votes
3) 22-250 and 204 R with 4 votes each
4) 22mag and 243 with 3 votes each
5) 17HMR with 2
The only other caliber in this category so far is 17Mach 2 with 1
Medium/Deer Sized Game:
1) 308 with 22 votes
2) 30-06 with 18 votes
3) 223 with 10 votes
4) 243, 7.62x39, 270Win and, 30-30 with 5 votes each
5) 6.5 Swede with 4 votes
Large/ Elk Moose Bear
1) 45-70 with 21 votes
2) 308 and 30-06 tied with 13 votes
3) 338 Win mag with 8 votes
4) 375 H&H with 7 votes
5) 300 Win mag with 6 votes
My observations and what I find surprising;
1) Probably the biggest surpise to me is the tie for 1st place between th 22LR and the 223.
2) 308 in first place in the mid sized category, WOW, I did not see that coming.
3) 45-70 in first place in the 3rd category, again, really didn't see that coming although I am glad to see that the old timer still has a great following.
4) The 30-06 has more support as medium bore than it does as a large caliber.
5) The 223 in a pretty strong 3rd place in the Mid bore cattegory.
All of the above are surpising to me.
General observations:
1) Close to half of the respondants see the 22 as a must have
2) Right now the 223 has the lead as the most popular cartridge with 37 votes in small and 10 votes in the medium ctegory for a total of 47 Votes.
3) The 22 is currently the second most popular cartridge with 37 votes.
4) The 308 is in a fairly strong third place with a total of 35 votes.
5) The 30-06 comes in with 31 votes total.
6) The 45-70 currently has the 5th place position as most popular, go figure.