I don't know how one finds a more patriotic cartridge than the .30 M-1 carbine. It may not be the finest hunting round we have but it's a hellofa lotta fun to shoot It just might be the finest rifle/cartridge for home defense.....after a shotgun of course!
When I was a young guy, 21 maybe, my buddy bought an M1 and a case of ammunition for an incredibly cheap price.
We went out to our gravel pit and destroyed a bunch of rocks. It was like a 22 on steroids. A pile of fun.