The two I carry the most for everything from hunting to bear defense: a 223 in a light, accurate bolt gun, and a high-cap 9mm in a light, polymer-framed gun. Neither are my favorite for elk at 400 yds, but I'd prefer either for grizz at 50 feet than anything bigger, heavier, more recoiling, harder to shoot. I've seen too many times that "easy to shoot well" trumps just about everything else. Little bullets have been killing huge, dangerous stuff ever since there have been rifled barrels.
