Tussey,
You said you' ve been on the forum before, so I assume you already know that posing a general - highly arguable - unprovable question will generate lots of fussing.

I would say it would help for you to qualify " what" we' re hunting as it may influence our reply: prairie dogs versus moose..... may make a difference.

Varmits: fast and light, faster the better -- explode them.

Most deer: Midrange anything is fine, they kill fairly easy.

Assuming the game is over 300 pounds, then.... Big AND Fast!
Of course that means magnums, and....
Of course that brings out the " why/recoil/flinch/recoil shy/never owned anything like that/don' t like that/saw somebody get busted up at the range once" response....

Good thing I take my vitamins,
Oh well, enjoy the show!

Never Go Undergunned,
EKM