America's most popular firearms and their ammunition

[ChalkLine]

I've been having no luck in finding out what the most popular handguns and semi auto rifles in the US. I want to know this as this will dictate what the most common ammunition remaining is.

I've read some articles which are confusing, but it's pretty obvious the AR-10/15 is heads up letting me confidently assume* that 5.56 x 45mm is the most popular and this seems to be followed by the venerable 7.62 x 51mm is at least equal. After this I just don't know enough about the US to guess.

Shotguns are comfortably 12 gauge with other far behind.

Pistols are where it gets murky. Some years ago I would have confidently stated that 9.0 x19mm was everywhere but since then .40 cal round has been making headway. Couldn't even guess after that.

(*there's that word)

[RandyT0001]

As far as pistols are concerned I think the 9x19mm is most popular for military, conceal carry users, and police forces (local, state, federal). A significant number of police forces (local) and conceal carry users use the .40 S&W.

[ChalkLine]

Great!

I suppose with all the SMGs running around in 9mm that makes it no1.

What would the next two be though?

[nuke11]

For rifle ammunition I would say .30-06, .30-30, .308 and .223 would be the most popular and most stock piled.

Pistol I would guess 9mm and .45 ACP.

Shotguns would be 12 gauge, 16 gauge and 20 gauge. Not sure about .410 if that is all that popular anymore.

Here is the top 11 cartridges sold by Federal in 2014.

1. .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO
2. .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO
3. .30-’06 Springfield
4. .30-30 Winchester
5. .270 Winchester
6. .243 Winchester
7. .300 Winchester Magnum
8. 7mm Remington Magnum
9. 7.62x39
10. .300 Winchester Short Magnum
11. .22-250 Remington

[ChalkLine]

I've heard that Russian calibres are very popular too. Is that true in your neck of the woods?

[.45cultist]

Rifles will be .223/5.56, 7.62X39, .30-30, .308/7.62X51, .30-06 and .303 for the Canadian side.
Pistols will be 9X19, .38 Special, .357 Mag, .45 ACP. these are mostly age and sheer amount. M1911's, Hp35's, are prolific, Glocks and "N" frame Smith and Wessons will last forever.
Black powder replicas, Remington, Colts(need to stat), the rifles. For replica revolvers, the barrels are .451, but the chambers are .455, so .451 balls creep forward and "jam" the cylinder. (worthless firearms trivia time). The .31 cap and ball revolver could replace the .22LR in small game, pest removal.