For nearly 100 years we have gotten along just fine with six shotgun sizes -- 10-, 12-, 16-, 20- and 28-gauges and .410-bore. Probably all we really need is the 10-, 16- and 28-gauges.
By 100 years ago we really had all the centerfire rifle cartridges we have any use for. Everything we've gotten since then is just manufacturers trying to sell newguns. My choice of six centerfire rifle cartridges would be the .22 WCF which morphed into the .22 Hornet, the .22 Savage High Power, the 7x57mm Mauser, the .30 govt. 06, the .375 H&H, and some good lever action and autoloader cartridge like the .300 Savage, though it didn't come along until 1920. Guess I'm discounting those rimmed cartridges for those 19th century, tubular magazine, Winchesters and Marlins!!
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