These are all cartidges that are balistic twins of better cartridges I am sure there is more I didn't think of right off the top of my head:
[ol][*].22 hornet(tiny cases that have very thin walls don't last for reloading.)[*]204 ruger (to close to the 17 never compare to the .22's)[*]220 swift ( just slightly better than the 22-250 with more powder to burn.)[*]257 roberts[*]250/300 savages[*]WSM all the short mags you want a mag make it long[*].260[*].280 [/ol]
I did not notice this post before starting top 12 this is my list of keepers.
[ol][*].22 short- I use this when camping (not hunting) for squirrels and chipmunks. I use it when I amcloseto camp and don't want all the noiseofother rounds.I use open sites a marlin tube fed bolt action.[*].22 lr.- a must have plinker cheap cheap cheap and accurate. 10/22and the marlin above.[*].22 mag.- I use this marlin as my squirrel gun if that is all I am going to use it for I have shot a couple of foxes with this gun and it has preformed well. I would not hesitate to use it on a coyote uder 125yrds.[*]9mm- yep 9mmhi-point carbine this ismy favorite fun gun. I have shot a bunch of jackswith it and a few squirrels. [*].223 rem.- a all day long shooter wont break the bank orburn your barrel.(200 stevens) for all varmints I hunt chipmunk to coyote.[*]22-250- as much velocity as you need in a .22 center fire. I would like one in a savage heavy barrel. [*].243 win.- alot of people use this for hunting deer I haveguns better for that purpose so this is a coyote gun (rem. 700 bdl.)[*]257 weatherby- I have this for deer and antelope I may try it ondistant coyote some day. Weatherby[*]7mm-08 - I am not sure why I like this caliber so much I bought it for deer and the .257 has taken over that role. My savage scout can shoot and it is just fun to shoot. I would use thison anything up to elk and hopefullywill.[*]30-06 I do not own one yet but will I don't think you can go wrong here with big game.[*]300 win mag.- I also need to pick one of these up. REM 700 sps.[*].338 win mag.- Also need to get one of these I will never leave the country to hunt so brown bear would be it if I were that lucky. [/ol]

In North America, we could "make do" with nothing but the good ol' .30/'06! But what FUN would THAT be??

You are right about the 30-06. I am sure there are many hunters who have hunted every species in NA with the 30-06. And when it comes down to it, they were pretty well armed. The same could be said for the 300 Win Mag which ups everything a little but that includes recoil. Many have rightly stated that the 30-06 is about the upper limit that almost all hunters can tolerate for recoil. The 300 Win Mag pushs that to the just beyond catagory for many. While a few shots in the field won't make or break the recoil thing, many are just not comfortable at the range with the 300 M. When I was twenty years younger and had been kicked a lot less, the 300 Was not a problem. Had I found the Shooters Friend recoil pad then, I would still be shooting my 700 Classic 300 Win Mag.

When people get tired of getting hammered at the range, they to will buy a Shooters Friend recoil pad and forget recoil from then on. Its the worlds best invention for the kick weary shooter.. I would go to the range without my pants before I would go without my Shooters Friend. NO!! I don't sell them or own any stock in their company. Check it out at cabelas site. They claim 70 percent reduction in felt recoil, thats a conservative estimate IMO.

12g......06...pass the hand grenades