Most common caliber

[djm670]

Based on one month US ammunition sales back in 2015. I imagine current data has changed a bit: Hard to find current data.

Federal's top sellers from 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


We've seen 6.5 Creedmoor's share increase 13xat AmmunitionToGo.com from 2015 to 2018. That's remarkable growth! 13 X 19 = 247 which would move the 6.5 Creedmoor up to 21st on that list.

Our historical sales data shows .308 ammo is incredibly consistent. Over the past five years, the caliber has moved up and down less than .1% as part of our product mix.

 

[coop2564]

last 5 years 6.5 CM, last 75 yrs 30-06

 

[Oldschool280]

There are a lot of people that need to google the difference between cartridge and caliber.

I hear that, but it's tough when the manufacturers just go with the flow and use the wrong terminology. Just check around on a few websites.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

IMO... In rifles....
1900 to 1970 the 30-30 rifle.
1970 to 2015 the 30-06
2015 to now... 6.5 creedmoor to 1200 yards. Marty

 

[Tiny Tim]

You are probably right. My FIL and his FIL hunted the west central PA mountains with the 300 Savage and the .35 Rem for a couple decades until they both got Remington 760 Gamemasters in .30-06 (probably the mid-70s). Guys seemed to love those pumps up there and they'd usually pump 'em dry at the deer running across the power line easments! Oh how they would roar in the woods!

Lol. I remember hunting like that as a kid, except I and my nephew were usually "drivers". But, oh, the spectacular misses!

 

[BASE424]

Or maybe you should read what I said again before suggesting what I do. I never once mentioned the "hunting" in my post.

Well let's see. The site is Long range hunting, your username is whitetail312, and you started the post with "as a beginning long range HUNTER". Think before you post. Knowing the difference between cartridge and caliber will let people know you've given your question some thought, but this certainly is
not the case here.

 

[338 dude]

So as a beginner in long range hunting and a small time preppier kind of guy, what do you think the most common cartridge in North America is? I know the 223/5.56 is the absolute most popular, but I think either a 300 win mag, or 30-06 Springfield would have to come in close seconds.

3006 !! it's been around over 100 years for a reason and you can find some kind of ammo pretty much anywhere

 

[Stephen Orleski]

It depends on what you want to hunt and at what range, and I know I am going to get a lot of kickback, but I don't think the 6.5 is good for Elk at longer distances. I know, I know.. I grew up near scranton, pa, in the early 1900's there were tons of elk right in that area, and many were killed with the 30-30.. right, but we are talking 100 yard shots or less. I hunted that area for a while, it is dense with trees, you don't get long shots. I am talking in general, not the exception here. The 300 win mag would be my choice for elk or bigger game. If you are taking white tail and other smaller game, the 6.5 would do just fine. The 6.5 runs hot, right, so 3000+ FPS, so you replace barrels sooner, so if cost is an issue.. better account for that. The 308 is a fine round, very versatile, if you had a shorter shot on elk, it would do, say < 400 or so.. maybe a little more depending on your skill level. But i can see it is being replaced by the 6.5 for most hunting applications.. Better ballistics mean more killing power at distance, and if you are running 150g 308 vs the 147g 6.5, the 6.5 will outrun it all day.. but it will cost you more in the long run.. 30-06 is a fine long action round, but the 308 has better ballistics so why go there, just go with the 300 winny.. about the same on the shoulder.. my 2 cents

 

[73driver]

30-06 is a fine long action round, but the 308 has better ballistics so why go there, just go with the 300 winny.. about the same on the shoulder.. my 2 cents

I don't think the 308 can hang with the 30-06 when your run 165, 175 or 180gr bullets. Also won a 300 Win MAG at Elk Foundation raffle and after shooting several hundred rounds sold it. I bought an 06 and ran 180's at 2825fbs using H4350 and my shoulder, ears and every part of me enjoyed shooting this rifle much better that the 300WM.

 

[Deleted member 8840]

The 6.5 Creedmore seems to be catching up to all of them. Good for a beginner for sure.

 

[JustMe2]

.308 caliber is by far the most popular. Nothing else even close. There are billions of firearms manufactured in this caliber all over the world such as Russian, Chinese, Brazilian, etc. manufacturers; AK-47s, M-1s, 303 British, etc. There are military and civilian warehouses stuffed with .308 caliber ammo.

 

[Possum Cop]

Since you are asking about rifles that are popular for long range; Federal lists their sales as .223, .308, .30-06, and .300 Win Mag.

Best of Luck.

 

[Lee Goodwin]

https://www.chuckhawks.com/hunt_around_world.html

 

[freddiej]

Throughout the years there have been so many popular chamberings.. the most abundant of which is 22 Long Rifle. most every one has a 22 LR in their collection.. maybe multiple. centerfire cartridges there have been many very popular, 30-06, 270 win, 308 win, 300 win mag and 7 mm rem mag. what is most effective is up for much debate. I am very adamant about not debating people on the effectiveness of any one caliber or cartridge. we all have out needs and wants. this dictates our choices.
My personal opinion of the most abundantly owned cartridge is the 7MM Rem Mag. I have seen enough idiots with that cartridge chambering in their hands while out hunting. I may not agree with it's effectiveness or it might be a wee bit overly damaging to the game you are about t use it on.. that does not matter.. the fact of the matter is that in the hunting realm the 7MM Rem Mag is the most abundant I have ever seen. in the realm of defensive carbines.. the 223/5.56 is the king of the bunch. in the handgun marksmanship and IDPA the 45 ACP rules the roost. in defensive realms the 9MM is the most abundantly used for carry daily and the most widely used in the law enforcement field.
however the most abundantly owned throughout the USA is the 22 LR.