R.Z.

That's right !!


Okay folks - my two cents (though most of what I can offer has already been covered):

Regarding guns (well, this much is true of any skill) ... they're no good if you're not practiced with them. I think most of us agree that time is short, so acquire a firearm & start practicing!


Sub-sonic rounds were mentioned as a way of not attracting attention - this is only true if your firearm is silenced ... all rounds make plenty of noise when fired, a silencer will mitigate that noise - but is obviously quite illegal without government issued permits.
If noise is a concern (and it may well be, at times) then a .22 long-rifle firearm may be your best bet. Both guns and ammunition are plentiful (here in the States, anyway), and they are commonly chambered in both rifles and handguns. This is a quiet round because it is relatively low-powered ... which emphasizes my first point - you must be practiced/accurate. An accurately placed .22 long-rifle round can be lethal at quite a long range.

Shotguns have been mentioned as bird-guns. A 12-gauge shotgun (again, a good choice due to availability of ammunition) can be a devastating short-range weapon to the largest of targets - with the proper choice of shells. My own experience may be limited compared to some others here, but my own collection includes equal parts #00 & #4 buckshot, and slugs. These are definitely not bird shot, but I don't intend to hunt quail with those rounds.

To the original question - the firearms that pack the most punch are high-powered (hunting) rifles (we can discuss handguns at another time). The obvious drawback to a high-powered rifle ... one shot will give away your position to anyone within, oh, say - a half mile or so. One thing to keep in mind here - the difference between a hunting rifle and an assault rifle is their designed purpose. A hunting rifle will efficiently take-down big game. An assault rifle is actually designed to wound, not to kill ... the thought behind this, in a military mindset, is: killing a soldier takes one man off the battlefield, wounding a soldier takes three men off the battlefield (the wounded man + two to carry him).
Should you be in the market for a high-powered rifle, I would suggest basing your decision as much on what is the most readily available ammunition in your area. Stop by the local Wal-Mart or sporting goods store & see what's stocked behind the counter. 30-06, 270, 300 are all more than adequate for anything less than the largest of big-game, and there are many, many others to choose from.


... enough for now ...


My best to everyone !!