what is the most common Caliber in the USA - The Firearms Forum

358 winchester · 11-08-2006, 07:30 AM

I was just wondering what is the most common center fire rifle caliber in your area?
around here in the DEEP SOUTH I think it is the 30-30 but I think nation wide it would be the 30-06
Let's hear from you and the gun shop owners
I want to know so that I can make sure I have one in my gun room,
I would just hate to be uncommon

Country101 · 11-08-2006, 07:42 AM

I would imagine the 30-06 with the 30-30 in a close second.

satellite66 · 11-08-2006, 08:07 AM

I was thinking 12ga or 9mm. Simply because they are used by so many cops.

polishshooter · 11-08-2006, 08:34 AM

.50 cal Muzzleloader, followed by the 12 guage....

We are shotgun/Handgun only for deer during gun, but also have always had decent Muzzleloading rules, that you can use either in the 15 day Gun or 15 day ML season that follows so even BEFORE in-lines and sabots and Pyrodex came along, you were just as likely to see a guy carrying his T/C Hawken during gun season as a 12 ga, or a .44 mag revolver, or a T/C Contender in .308 or 7mm TCU....

And with the new whiz-bang in-lines, it's getting even more common during gun....

EVERY year the DNR discusses allowing centerfire rifles, and it's getting close, but last year it got "tabled' by an argument what would be allowed, and there was even a suggestion that it be limited to lever actions or single shots shooting traditional "lever action" cartridges, whatever THAT might be...

I would guess the .30-30 will get a new following if it gets passed like that....

inplanotx · 11-08-2006, 08:55 AM

Here's the answer from Chuck Hawks.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/deer_rifle.htm

The top six deer cartridges in North America, in terms of factory ammunition sales, are the .30-06 Spfd., .270 Win., .30-30 Win., .308 Win., .243 Win., and 7mm Rem. Mag. All of these are popular deer cartridges, but they are clearly diverse in their capabilities.

IPT

Marlin · 11-08-2006, 09:22 AM

Although he writes in detail about most of the popular calibres, Chuck Hawk's basic summary seems to be in this paragraph:

"The .270 and .30-06 remain the most popular dual-purpose deer cartridges. Properly zeroed they offer a maximum point blank range close to or beyond 300 yards. These are fine cartridges for all-around rifles with standard length actions."

Kenneth · 11-08-2006, 10:39 AM

I think I would have to agree with the above as far as hunting guns go , but I wonder what the top ammuntion selling is ?
30-06 , 308 , 223 , 7.62x39 , a lot of the latter there are sold in bulk and such writers as above are looking at it from the hunters view and I was just wondering if you looked at the actual number of boxes sold would you still have the same results .
I don't know too many hunters that buy more than a couple of boxes a year of thier favorite cartrides , but I know lots of folks who have bought one or more one thousand round cases of the latter mentioned ammo .
Anyone know if the 223 and 7.62x39 and 308 sales compete with the everyday hunting cartridges ?
Kenneth

Pistolenschutze · 11-08-2006, 10:50 AM

In Colorado it would be hard to say, I think. I'm tempted to say the .30-06, yet I note that an awful lot of hunters prefer the 7mm Rem Mag or the .300 Win Mag.

Pat Hurley · 11-08-2006, 06:34 PM

Just a hunch, but in Florida I'd say .30-06, followed very closely by the .270.

Pat Hurley

danurve · 11-08-2006, 07:25 PM

Even though several counties have expanded to allow rifle in NY State alot of hunters including myself just use a 12 or 20 ga. With the advances & accuracy in Muzzleloaders they're very popular. The 30 cal's & .270 has a stong following in the woods.

Marlin T · 11-08-2006, 10:00 PM

.22

Edit:

Ohhh, you said centerfire huh? oh well and never mind.

Bruce FLinch · 11-08-2006, 10:25 PM

In Kal, it has to be the 223 or 308, so us Conservatives can go out & shoot our "assault bolt guns"

southernshooter · 11-08-2006, 10:33 PM

Around here I would say the 30-06 or 12 gauge in a pistol I would say .40 or .45

Kimber Man · 11-08-2006, 11:08 PM

Up North, it's a 30-30

11-08-2006, 07:30 AM	#1
358 winchester TFF Admin Staff Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pensacola Fl. area Posts: 7,335	what is the most common Caliber in the USA I was just wondering what is the most common center fire rifle caliber in your area? around here in the DEEP SOUTH I think it is the 30-30 but I think nation wide it would be the 30-06 Let's hear from you and the gun shop owners I want to know so that I can make sure I have one in my gun room, I would just hate to be uncommon __________________ Administrator & Owner RangeDay.com Proud, White, Heterosexual, Gun Owning, Southern American, Christian. Any question about where I stand? -->

11-08-2006, 07:42 AM	#2
Country101 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dardanelle, AR Contributor Posts: 2,028	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA I would imagine the 30-06 with the 30-30 in a close second. __________________ Gainfully employed= shooting somebody elses bullets and getting paid for it Country101

11-08-2006, 08:07 AM	#3
satellite66 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Central NJ Posts: 2,068	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA I was thinking 12ga or 9mm. Simply because they are used by so many cops. __________________ “Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not” — Thomas Jefferson. "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." - Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

11-08-2006, 08:34 AM	#4
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,860	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA .50 cal Muzzleloader, followed by the 12 guage.... We are shotgun/Handgun only for deer during gun, but also have always had decent Muzzleloading rules, that you can use either in the 15 day Gun or 15 day ML season that follows so even BEFORE in-lines and sabots and Pyrodex came along, you were just as likely to see a guy carrying his T/C Hawken during gun season as a 12 ga, or a .44 mag revolver, or a T/C Contender in .308 or 7mm TCU.... And with the new whiz-bang in-lines, it's getting even more common during gun.... EVERY year the DNR discusses allowing centerfire rifles, and it's getting close, but last year it got "tabled' by an argument what would be allowed, and there was even a suggestion that it be limited to lever actions or single shots shooting traditional "lever action" cartridges, whatever THAT might be... I would guess the .30-30 will get a new following if it gets passed like that.... __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

11-08-2006, 08:55 AM	#5
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA Here's the answer from Chuck Hawks. http://www.chuckhawks.com/deer_rifle.htm The top six deer cartridges in North America, in terms of factory ammunition sales, are the .30-06 Spfd., .270 Win., .30-30 Win., .308 Win., .243 Win., and 7mm Rem. Mag. All of these are popular deer cartridges, but they are clearly diverse in their capabilities. IPT __________________

11-08-2006, 09:22 AM	#6
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,853	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA Although he writes in detail about most of the popular calibres, Chuck Hawk's basic summary seems to be in this paragraph: "The .270 and .30-06 remain the most popular dual-purpose deer cartridges. Properly zeroed they offer a maximum point blank range close to or beyond 300 yards. These are fine cartridges for all-around rifles with standard length actions." __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

11-08-2006, 10:39 AM	#7
Kenneth Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 34	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA I think I would have to agree with the above as far as hunting guns go , but I wonder what the top ammuntion selling is ? 30-06 , 308 , 223 , 7.62x39 , a lot of the latter there are sold in bulk and such writers as above are looking at it from the hunters view and I was just wondering if you looked at the actual number of boxes sold would you still have the same results . I don't know too many hunters that buy more than a couple of boxes a year of thier favorite cartrides , but I know lots of folks who have bought one or more one thousand round cases of the latter mentioned ammo . Anyone know if the 223 and 7.62x39 and 308 sales compete with the everyday hunting cartridges ? Kenneth

11-08-2006, 10:50 AM	#8
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA In Colorado it would be hard to say, I think. I'm tempted to say the .30-06, yet I note that an awful lot of hunters prefer the 7mm Rem Mag or the .300 Win Mag. __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter)

11-08-2006, 06:34 PM	#9
Pat Hurley Former Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 987	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA Just a hunch, but in Florida I'd say .30-06, followed very closely by the .270. Pat Hurley

11-08-2006, 07:25 PM	#10
danurve V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Syracuse (central) NY Posts: 195	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA Even though several counties have expanded to allow rifle in NY State alot of hunters including myself just use a 12 or 20 ga. With the advances & accuracy in Muzzleloaders they're very popular. The 30 cal's & .270 has a stong following in the woods. __________________ huntNY.US In Memory of Ronald Reagan 1911 - 2004 Success is a well placed shot, don't screw it up.

11-08-2006, 10:00 PM	#11
Marlin T Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 7,857	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA .22 Edit: Ohhh, you said centerfire huh? oh well and never mind. __________________ "But the simple truth--born of experience--is that tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people." Judge Alex Kozinski - United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government. - Thomas Paine Did you read todays GOOD shooting? >>>KEEPANDBEARARMS.COM <<< Last edited by Marlin T; 11-08-2006 at 10:02 PM..

11-08-2006, 10:25 PM	#12
Bruce FLinch Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bay Point, Kali..aka Gun Point Posts: 5,016	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA In Kal, it has to be the 223 or 308, so us Conservatives can go out & shoot our "assault bolt guns" __________________ A bad day @ the Range, is better than a good day @ work.

11-08-2006, 10:33 PM	#13
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA Around here I would say the 30-06 or 12 gauge in a pistol I would say .40 or .45 __________________ Only you can see this

11-08-2006, 11:08 PM	#14
Kimber Man Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 811	Re: what is the most common Caliber in the USA Up North, it's a 30-30