The information here is pulled from a few sources that I'll paste links to below. It's based on ammo sales. I'm excluding the 22 l.r. from this list because it's extensive use in rifles and carbines skews the results. But it's high and popular. I also excluded the 17 HMR and 22 Magnum for the same reasons. Most of the lists drew from Lucky Gunner and are a few years old (2015-2016). The information draws from sales of handgun and long gun ammo.
1. 9mm (this includes +P and +P+)
2. 45 acp
3. 40 S&W
4. 380 acp
5. 357 Magnum
6. 38 Special
7. 44 Magnum
8. 45 Colt (Long Colt)
9. 32 acp
10. 25 acp
357 Sig would be 11th on the list.
From what I've seen here 38 Super outsells the 44 Special by a small amount, coming in 35th and 36th on the list of top 100. 10mm lags behind both, coming in at 61st. That may have changed some recently.
I don't believe that this includes sales to law enforcement or the military.
The site below Knowledge Glue also lists ammo sales by state. Which is quite interesting.
http://knowledgeglue.com/what-are-the-most-popular-calibers-in-the-us/
http://knowledgeglue.com/what-are-the-top-firearm-calibers-and-manufacturers-by-state/
Most other sources pointed to Lucky Gunner as well.
Other sources for an idea anyway are to go to:
https://www.midwayusa.com/handgun-ammunition/br?cid=691
and look at the number of options in calibers available for sale. The more types of ammo listed the more sales of it. But that's a very rough gage.
tipoc
1. 9mm (this includes +P and +P+)
2. 45 acp
3. 40 S&W
4. 380 acp
5. 357 Magnum
6. 38 Special
7. 44 Magnum
8. 45 Colt (Long Colt)
9. 32 acp
10. 25 acp
357 Sig would be 11th on the list.
From what I've seen here 38 Super outsells the 44 Special by a small amount, coming in 35th and 36th on the list of top 100. 10mm lags behind both, coming in at 61st. That may have changed some recently.
I don't believe that this includes sales to law enforcement or the military.
The site below Knowledge Glue also lists ammo sales by state. Which is quite interesting.
http://knowledgeglue.com/what-are-the-most-popular-calibers-in-the-us/
http://knowledgeglue.com/what-are-the-top-firearm-calibers-and-manufacturers-by-state/
Most other sources pointed to Lucky Gunner as well.
Other sources for an idea anyway are to go to:
https://www.midwayusa.com/handgun-ammunition/br?cid=691
and look at the number of options in calibers available for sale. The more types of ammo listed the more sales of it. But that's a very rough gage.
tipoc
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