for the guy that has everything

[TinStar]

i live in IL. deer hunting is shotgun only, no rifles. I have some bigger guns .243, .338 but everybody here has .12ga ammo. there is prob an old box in about every 4th home. plus i have a .12ga reloader.

the only problem i really have with the .308 idea is availability of ammo in a necessary situation. i don't even think the local wal-mart carries it and i am not going to stock pile it when i can't use it.

I think that's an awesome point especially about being able to raid ammo, but do you think you could actually get it? I mean.. Doesn't everyone in IL have a 12 ga? Supply may be high but so would demand. Look at .22lr ammo right now. Reloading is only as good as the supplies and you aren't going to find reloading supplies everywhere. I would consider a survival situation like this as what you actually have on you is what you have to survive so obviously getting the appropriate ammo before the end of civilization would be key..

Did you say .243 as "bigger guns"? hah! Although I guess .243 would be sufficient as long as you aren't out killing bears..

I've never hunted deer with a shotgun - always used my 30-06.

I have killed deer with 12ga (buckshot), 20ga (buckshot) and bow (arrow). But then again I only hunted as a kid and my parents didn't want a 12yo walking around with a .270 *shrug*