Several times I have had the need to carry and I have chosen a Sig P220 with cast 230g TC. Once I carried a 2.5" 686 stuffed with 125g JHP that I loaded over 1400fps. - this was after a home burglary and I was advised to pack by the local LEO.
Only had to clear leather to show the P 220 once. Couple bad guys with soiled linen was the result. The rest of the times I was able to go about under the wire.
Hunting I carry a Remington 700 in 6.5-06 with a 3" 629-2 loaded with 265g GCSWC @ 1200fps.
These days I have more options.
I could carry, probably would carry, an accurized Mini 30 with 150g NBT load out.
Well I have a Glock M-23 in the car at all times and my truck gun is a Ruger Speed-Six. I also pocket carry a Kel-Tec P3AT. That about covers my beer runs and off road excursions. Hopefully no blood will be encountered.
Back in the day...(burp) I carried a Model 58. We were issued Model 870s, and I always had either an M-1 carbine or an AR-180 stuck under the head rests of my patrol car.
The only one that I fired in circumstances other than training was the 58.
Model 28 S&W with 145 grain silvertips, Ruger with 110 gr. +P+ hollowpoints, 870, H&K P2000 with .40 155 gr., an old school M-16 or Car 15, a S&W Model 15 with 110 hardball, and most shifts in those days a 70-90 lb. german shepard with factory loads...
My old (gone now) Colt detective special had to be used to diffuse a situation one snowy night. A Sig P-220 .45ACP (Early West German) usually does nightly bedside duty along with an AMD-65 folded to make a 30rd. 25.5 inch persuader if need be. I hope no-one ever wants to trade his life for anything I have laying around my place. I don't think I have anything worth it. But, who am I to judge?.......Sprefix
The first few months I carried my SIG P226 .357. Eventually I replaced it with a new P226R 9mm with nightsights and a mounted Streamlight M3. Longguns are a flattop Bushmaster 16" with a Bushnell Holosight and a 7 shot Remington 870. I haven't qualified with my no-lock 642 yet.
M-60 machine gun & a 1911 by Colt. The running joke was the .45 was to shoot yourself with if anything happened to your machine gun.
M-14 that felt like grip of the stock was custom made for me. Loved that rifle.
M-16 one of which was made by General Motors ... never developed a feel for any of them.
Grease gun for ambush duty. Slow shooting .45 that was really good at disturbing the peace.
Last but not least a Claymor bag of grenades. ........... loved grenades.
If I'm ever in a popsition to really indulge myself, I'd still really like to have an M1A1 .... wood stock not fiberglass ... web sling .... magazines etc. ... etc.