The 22 caliber is an excellent size cartage to have in both rife and pistol. The idea is cost of ammunition, and weight factors when toting about several hundred rounds. Both the pistol, and rifle are inexpensive as well. The higher caliber rifle, e.g., 30/06 and pistol, e.g., 44 mag is good to use for hunting, if is the correct caliber, and you can afford the price of bullets. BK has displayed several hand-loading posts, and hand loading would be the way to go for the larger calibers. Both shell casings, and bullets are available pre-cast, and finished by various manufacturers, and are in inexpensive if acquired in bulk lots of several hundred at a time. Consider about 2000 size lots to start. Idea, is that you may be able to reuse the expended casings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.22_Long_Rifle