Plus, more people own a .22LR then any other caliber. .22 can be bought in bulk and, in a shtf scenario, traded 1 at a time or by handful to the hungry soul.
But - that 100-yrd shot would likely bounce off the victims head, you know.
"...in a shtf scenario, traded 1 at a time or by handful to the hungry soul."
Bingo to the many who are taking a dump on the mighty .22;
Didn't your scoutmasters ever give you the 'it's the most dangerous cartridge' lecture?
My prefered SHTF rifle is a .30/06. But I'd bet my a$$ on my 10/22 loaded with CCI stingers close in if that was all I could grab. And it would put meat on my table from rabbit to venison to birds of any feather.
If there is one old gun in the closet, it probably eats that. In time of trouble, .22 ammo is a great (and almost universal) barter item. Like plastic ziploc bags, utility knife blades, ziptie's, etc. We take them for granted but they are all-but impossible to make yourself or improvise.
And very cheap to stockpile now.
Whatever you stockpile, I'd buy name brand and buy a variety: .22 doesn't ALWAYS age very well. Buying one kind is too risky down the road. I like CCI, but Winchester is still good. Current (since the 1980's) Remington .22 ammo is not good from what I've seen.
Their older match-grade 42 gr stuff was very good.
(This I don't get as their center fire is very good).