I have been trying to figure out which are the most common calibers criminals use to commit crimes.
My initial searches didn't turn up much but then I mustered my chi and exerted some intense riatsu with a serious search-fu.
I was specifically thinking about this as it relates to body armor.
The step up from Level II to Level III is to protect against 10mm to 10.8 mm (.40" -.430") 240-ish grain / projectiles traveling in the 1430fps range.
And .355 - .357" 158-ish grain projectiles traveling in the 1410fps range.
Figuring out the probability of encountering a bad guy wielding a 10mm with hot rounds, a .44 magnum, or a .357 magnum might be a factor in decising to go with a more comfortable Level II vest
A study done in by the University of Pennsylvania showed that, in
Philadelphia,:
In 1985, of 91 homicides
44% .38 caliber revolver
19% .25 caliber pistol
14% .22 caliber revolver
14% .32 caliber revolver
3% 9 mm pistol
2% .357 caliber revolver
In 1990, of 204 homicides
23% 9 mm pistol
18% .38 caliber revolver
16% .357 caliber revolver
16% .22 caliber revolver
10% .32 caliber revolver
"The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services studied 844
homicides that occurred in 18 jurisdictions from 1989 through 1991.
Firearms were identified as the murder weapon in 600 cases. Over 70%
of the firearms used were handguns. Of those handguns where the
caliber and firing action could be identified, 19% were a .38 caliber
revolver, 10% were .22 caliber revolvers, and 9% were 9 millimeter
semiautomatic pistols."
"The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, Crime Prevention
Division, studied 59 firearms-related homicides in Honolulu from 1988
to 1992. Handguns were used in 48 homicides (over 80%) including 11
handguns of 9 millimeter caliber, 10 of .357 caliber, 10 of .38
caliber, and 5 of .25 caliber."
Guns Used in Crime
http://www.firearmsid.com/Feature Articles/0900GUIC/Guns Used in Crime.htm
Handguns Taken in Evidence in California, 1993
5,222 - .22
4,693 - .25
1,477 - .32
4,842 - .380
4,671 - .38
5,295 - 9mm
2,395 - .357
1,787 - .45
Does California Have Crime Guns?
An Analysis of Justice Department Data
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/vprp/snsweb.html
The top 10 guns used in crimes in the United States, according to an
unpublished Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms report:
1. Smith and Wesson .38 revolver
2. Ruger 9 mm semiautomatic
3. Lorcin Engineering .380 semiautomatic
4. Raven Arms .25 semiautomatic
5. Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun
6. Smith and Wesson 9mm semiautomatic
7. Smith and Wesson .357 revolver
8. Bryco Arms 9mm semiautomatic
9. Bryco Arms .380 semiautomatic
10. Davis Industries .380 semiautomatic
America's Most Wanted Guns
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,320383,00.html
"The number one gun used in crimes during 1999 was the Smith & Wesson
.38 caliber revolver. 4.6% of all handgun crimes involved this type of
gun"
An Analytical Discussion of Gun Violence in the United States