# What are the most common rifle calibers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668 "2010-04-02T00:01:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/1 "2010-04-02T00:01:28Z")
I know they’ve made dozens of different calibers over more than a century. But what would be, say, the ten or twelve most common calibers produced today? (I’ll count incompatible cartridges with the same bullet diameter as two different calibers.) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/2 "2010-04-02T00:13:12Z")
Since the US uses .223 for the M16, and AK47s use .308 (as do M60s and HK-91s, etc.), these two calibers must account for some large percentage of all the ammunition produced every year. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/3 "2010-04-02T00:16:34Z")
.223/5.56 NATO .308/7.62 NATO 7.62x39 .30-06 .270 Winchester 5.45x39 .22LR .243 Winchester 7mm Magnum .300 Win Mag .45-70 .30-30 These are in no particular order, though the military cartridges at the top certainly will be among the most produced, though by sheer numbers, .22lr is probably number 1 since it’s so cheap. I also have no cite other than seeing what’s usually in stock at most stores. Finally, I am aware there are some differences between the NATO rounds and their civilian counterparts, so that some rifles will only shoot one or the other, but I’d still group them together. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/4 "2010-04-02T00:17:10Z")
I’d say that in civilian hands anyway, the most common caliber is .22 Rim-fire. And most likely for total rounds fired as well. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/5 "2010-04-02T00:17:41Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Since the US uses .223 for the M16, and AK47s use .308 (as do M60s and HK-91s, etc.), these two calibers must account for some large percentage of all the ammunition produced every year. The AK-47, etc use 7.62x39, which is a different cartridge than the .308/7.62 NATO. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/6 "2010-04-02T00:18:48Z")
7.62 by 39 may be .308 in diameter but .308 normally refers to .308 Winchester or 7.62x51mm NATO. In the same way, .22 generally does not refer to .223. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/7 "2010-04-02T00:19:35Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > The AK-47, etc use 7.62x39, which is a different cartridge than the .308/7.62 NATO. The OP specifically asked for caliber, not cartridge size. I own an HK-91, so I’m well aware of the difference. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/8 "2010-04-02T00:22:11Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The OP specifically asked for caliber, not cartridge size. > I own an HK-91, so I’m well aware of the difference. I am assuming the OP wasn’t actually asking about caliber, but simply different cartridges, since he mentioned them in his post. If the OP wanted caliber only, then you are correct. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/9 "2010-04-02T14:24:28Z")
I used to reload for my Mini-30, and if I recall correctly, the die had two interchangeable mandrels or swages or whatever they are called that would open the mouth up to accept either a .308 or a .311 caliber bullet, the latter better suited for Russian weapons like the SKS and its clones. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/10 "2010-04-02T14:35:16Z")
I have done an Online Pole in a gun forum when I set up a Power Point “Family Feud” game for my firearms safety students. This was then for the "Most Popular Deer Cartridge/Gun. 1. 30- '06 Springfield 2. 30-30 Winchester(30WCF) 3. .270 Winchester 4. 12 Gauge w/slug 5. .308 Winchester Those were the most common and were used in the game. The Firearms safety class(11 & 12 year molds only missed the .270 a couple weeks back.(this was the 1st night) I like to access the overall knowledge of the class early on. Other close entry’s were, 7mm Remington Magnum .243 Winchester 25-06 Remington 7mm-08 Remington 300 Savage again this reflects Deer Hunting only. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/11 "2010-04-02T17:09:08Z")
Did you mention that there are more deer _poached_ every year using .22LR than are legally taken with any other cartridge? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/12 "2010-04-02T17:15:59Z")
In one of Jeff Cooper’s books he opined that there are _ **way** _ too many calibers. He said we could easily get by with just half-a-dozen calibers (total) for rifle \*and \*handgun. I would agree. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/13 "2010-04-02T17:50:12Z")
Where’s the fun in that? If there were only 6 calibers, we couldn’t argue for eons over which was best in what situation. Come on, dude! get with the program! \*\* silenus\*\* - who owns more than a half-dozen calibers just in Mausers alone. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/14 "2010-04-02T22:14:00Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > In one of Jeff Cooper’s books he opined that there are _ **way** _ too many calibers. He said we could easily get by with just half-a-dozen calibers (total) for rifle \*and \*handgun. I would agree. Probably true, except the debate over **which** half-dozen has led to endless variation. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/15 "2010-04-03T02:18:43Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Where’s the fun in that? If there were only 6 calibers, we couldn’t argue for eons over which was best in what situation. Come on, dude! get with the program! Or more relevant, where’s the **profit** in that? Arms manufacturers make much of their money from making & selling ammunition, or licensing others to do so for their guns. If they used a standard cartridge, people could buy them from the cheapest supplier, rather than their brand name ones. Just like ink cartridges for inkjet printers – we could easily get by (and customers would save money & irritation) with just a dozen or so types. But every printer company tries to introduce new, patented/restricted cartridges for each new printer. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/16 "2010-04-03T03:39:27Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Where’s the fun in that? If there were only 6 calibers, we couldn’t argue for eons over which was best in what situation. Come on, dude! get with the program! LOL. I belong to a number of gun-related message boards. Every few months a newbie will start a thread entitled, “What should I carry: 9 mm or 45 ACP?” I will \*never \*participate in a thread like that. Another is, “Which is better: .223 or .308?” Threads like that go on for a \*nauseating \*20 pages. I’ve learned my lesson… I don’t even click on those threads. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/17 "2010-04-03T03:42:39Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > LOL. > > I belong to a number of gun-related message boards. Every few months a newbie will start a thread entitled, “What should I carry: 9 mm or 45 ACP?” I will \*never \*participate in a thread like that. Another is, “Which is better: .223 or .308?” > > Threads like that go on for a \*nauseating \*20 pages. I’ve learned my lesson… I don’t even click on those threads. I don’t see the problem. It’s the .40 S&W. d&r ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2010, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/18 "2010-04-03T09:13:32Z")
.25 ACP. 😃 The pumice stone in the rock pile of the gun world. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/19 "2010-04-03T19:17:28Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I don’t see the problem. > > It’s the .40 S&W. > > d&r No, the .40 S&W is definitely underpowered compared to the 10mm or .41 Magnum. \ ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668/20 "2010-04-03T19:40:15Z")
I’d never use a .22 for deer hunting. There’s too much risk it’ll run off and die in the brush. I’ve always hunted with a .30-30. I try my best to find any deer that gets into the brush. My family eats what I hunt. Killing an animal and wasting it would bother me. > [@silenus](#): > > Did you mention that there are more deer _poached_ every year using .22LR than are legally taken with any other cartridge? 😃 You could be right about poachers. I let the fish and game officers take care of them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-common-rifle-calibers/534668.md?page=2)