Here are my basics.1. Small Game Rifle: My Henry H001 .22 Long Rifle .22LR rifle, no self respecting American should be with out one. They afford the owner tons of shooting enjoyment as well as a cheap way to keep up on the fundamentals of shooting. We all also know what an incredible small game and varmint/pest getter they are as well. I collect more small game with my .22 than any other cartridge that I use.
2. Shotgun: The field is very diverse and varied here and it don't matter what gauge or action type you prefer. For me it is the good ol' Mossberg 500 12GA combo. This was my first deer/turkey/small game do it all gun. I collected my very first deer with this gun with the trophy slugster barrel installed using the old Winchester version of the BRI Sabot Slug. Over the years I've hunted upland game with nothing but the modified choke installed in the 28" field barrel. This gun coupled with Winchester 3" 2OZ #4 Turkey loads accounted for quite a few turkeys. I also had a most memorable hunt one year when I hit a big ol' hen at 45yd with this set up
When I paced the distance I thought I mis-counted. I paced that shot 3 times to make sure and came up with 45 every time. I worked my rear end off on the farm so I could afford this one, so it is very near and dear to me aside from all of the game getting memories that we share.3. General Purpose Rifle: For me this would be my Marlin .44 mag 1894ss. This is my do it all gun though it is more than is needed it serves house duty as well. I have no close by neighbors or children so over penetration is not a concern with me. Whether it is coyotes in the pasture, woods bumming to Black bear in the thick NY woods this one gets fed Hornady 240gr XTP HP over a max charge of H110. It already has two deer, several racoons and porquepine to its credit. Anything that gets within 125yd is in for some serious trouble of being ventilated for sure.
4. Big Game Rifle: Why what else would it be but my 336A 2002 vintage Marlin in 30-30 of course
This rifle never ceases to amaze me, it is vey accurate with the ammo it likes such as Federal Fusion and Hornady LE. I know I don't need to preach to the choir here, as we all know how deadly it is on game from Deer to Moose. I have a self imposed limit of not taking any shots on Deer sized game at more than 300yd no matter what the cartridge is, and only then when the conditions are right. My rifle just so happens to shoot the Hornady LE ammo very well and I'm very comfortable with this rifle and ammo out to that distance. However I always try to and do get much much closer, most of my shots will probably never exceed 200yd. To this day I've never shot a deer past 140yd. But if I had to shoot a wounded deer and could not get closer than 300yd that rifle and I are certainly capable with that ammo. I actually hunt with the Federal Fusion ammo but carry 3 spare rounds of the Hornady LE stuff just in case. In my rifle they both stike to the same point of aim at 100yd figure that one out 
For largrer game (if I ever get the opportunity) my self imposed limit is cut to 150yd max, and as always closer is always better. I know that there are other cartridges better suited to game the size of Elk and Moose, but at this point I don't forsee another big game rifle in my future anytime soon. So right now Elk or Moose is nothing more than a pipe dream. I have yet to ever feel at a disadvantage with this rifle.
5.Handgun Cartridge: This is the one that I cut my teeth on more than any other as I count on it (God forbid) to save mine and my wife's bacon. For this my pick is the ubiquitous .38 SPL. For social purposes I've been using nothing but my fathers S&W M60 no dash since 2001. I keep it stoked with the Rem version of the "FBI" load and a spare speed loader in my pockect with the Speer 135gr +P Short Barrel load as it loads faster. Even though it only holds 5 rounds I never feel under gunned. This one also has some serious sentimental value as it was my father's off duty revolver for a long long time. It is also one of a few that I'm very proud to have inherited from my late father. For the woods I use my recently purchased S&W M10. Even though I have never needed it, it is always with me when I go hunting or woods bumming. Once again I've never felt under gunned with it but it is always second to a log gun of some sort.
My favorite load for this gun when out in the woods is a 158gr cast SWC from Tenessee Valley bullets over 4.6gr of Unique.
Ok so there is my basics. If needed I could do away with the Marlin 1894 .44, but I like it to much to get rid of it as it does fill a specific niche. So what are your basics?
