go with a .223 because they a very versatile guns. you can buy cheap ammo and there is such a wide selection of bulletts to choose from even in factory loads. From a 40 grain to probably 60 in factory. what i have seen from mine there is nop pelt damage not even in the faster bullets. Just meat damage. The hole from a 45 gr hp are so small that there is no blood trail from any animal. I have killed deer with my .223 witht he 45 gr hp and there is a very small whole but the bullets are catastrophic on the animal. the deer i killed with it neither went more then 30 yrds before expiring. Get one youll like it alot.