Can't disagree much w/Bret's list. I'd go with .22LR, .308 (which I don't have), .44 Mag, and 12ga. Maximum versatility and usefulness, all well proven, lots of ammo choices and availability (most of the time).
We don't buy what we need, we buy what we want. Amazingly the gun manufacturers over the years have done an excellent job of making stuff we want, even if we don't need it.
