.30-30 for me, in a Marlin lever action with a compact scope. It will kill anything I could ever encounter with the right ammo. Long range performance is pretty much academic as I won't shoot at anything living beyond 200 yards. I have a 6.5 CM and like it very much, however many people report that barrel life is not as good as other cartridges. I load mine pretty modest so hopefully it will last a long time.