Caliber popularity

J

JoeSixpack

New member
I was wondering does the ammo industry report statistics on ammo sales.
Does anyone track gun sale stats close enough to break down chambering?

Im not trying to ignite a caliber war discussion, Im just looking for a yearly break down on which is bought the most in both new gun sales and ammo sales.

We know 22lr, 12ga, 5.56 etc would be high in popularity but I'd be curious on how it all lines up.
 
The last year I have figures for is 2007. 9mm was the most popular centerfire pistol cartridge in retail sales and the 2nd most popular pistol cartridge (the .40S&W took top honors) in LE sales.

LE has moved away from the .40S&W a little bit in response to the FBI's changeover to 9mm, but I don't have recent numbers that tell whether or not there's been enough of a change to put 9mm on top in LE sales.
 
wow that's some time back, do you have a full list? like where 22lr falls in, .308, .223, 12ga, etc?

I was curious of the whole spectrum.
 
I think my guns track fairly well with the most popular. I shoot 12 gauge, 22lr and 9mm that I shoot frequently with a smattering of 380, 5.56 and 38 Special that I seldom shoot. 12 gauge, 22le and 9mm are by far the most available and the most affordable.
 
...do you have a full list? like where 22lr falls in, .308, .223, 12ga, etc?
Click to expand...
Sadly, no.

Those numbers were from a magazine article discussing self-defense pistol calibers. I believe they were derived from sales numbers provided by one of the major ammo companies--Winchester if memory serves.
 
Such information is usually difficult to find unless the ammo makers go public with it. Although I shoot mostly muzzleloaders my main revolver caliber is the .38spl and pistol caliber is the .45acp. But I guess I'm old fashion and over the hill.
 
My firearm ownership has a direct correlation to my perception of caliber popularity.

I paid the price for that in the 08 panic.
Usually popular means easy to find. During panics popular means a shortage.

My perception is
9mm
.223
12ga
22lr
.308
Followed by milsurp and combloc calibers.

I have no scientific evidence to provide
 
I have no evidence or sources to claim this as true, but my own opinion on this question, omitting .22 LR and 12 gauge, is that it goes something like this:

Pistol:
1. 9mm
2. .45 ACP
3. .38 Special
4. .380 ACP
5. .40 S&W

Rifle:
1. .223/5.56
2. .308/7.62 Nato
3. 7.62x39
4. 30-06
5. .300 Win Mag or .243 Winchester

I think with the explosion in concealed carrying and the LE change away from .40 S&W to whatever, has driven the .40 down to levels below that of the .38 and .380.

I'm absolutely confidant the top 3 in my rifle list is accurate. 4 and 5 is just a guess, but I know that .30-06 is in the top 5.
 
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