World's favorite calibers

[preventec47]

I was reading a guns book and never really thought about it
but here are the top five

7.62 x 39 ( AK-47)
.223
.308
.270
.30-06

What really impresses me is that the .270 is the only one
that earned the right without being military. I have a 7mm rem mag and by buddy has a .270 and his rifle is just a smidggen
lower in velocity in comparable bullet weights even though
his ammo is half the price. It truely is a do it all round.

[veeman]

Hmm, I must be weird. My favorites are 44-40, 45 colt, 38-55, 45 auto, 357.

[Mescalero]

What gun book?
This data must be flawed ( concerning .270 ) or compiled under a criterion set only the accumulator understands.
I am not doubting your veracity, but something is not kosher.

[jlchucker]

Hmm, I must be weird. My favorites are 44-40, 45 colt, 38-55, 45 auto, 357.

I'm even wierder that you are. I include the 30-30 Winchester and 35 Remington along with your list of favorites.

[AJMD429]

What gun book?

...maybe Jack O'Conner was the author...

Seriously though, it is interesting on THAT list, how close the .308, .30-06, and .270 are ballistically, vs. the other two.

[marlinman93]

I would guess this is based on all ammo sold, so that would account for the military calibers being high on the list. I'm shocked the .270 is there, as I didn't think it was all that popular. Even more shocked that the .30-30 isn't there!

[L_Kilkenny]

The first 2, maybe 3, are pretty obvious but I'm dang surprised that numbers 4 and 5 aren't metric or at least a brit. Worldwide I don't see the .30-06 and especially the .270 having much of a following.

BTW, my favorites are the .22-250, .243 and 7mm-08. Around here I'm a pariah!

LK

[Blaine]

I can't imagine .22LR not heading the list.

[Mescalero]

I would hope the original poster would or could provide more backround information on how the data was compiled.

[COSteve]

Without 22lr and 9mm on the list, I'm suspicious of it.

[Cliff]

Interesting data. One reason I can figure for the 270 is that it has never been a military caliber. A lot of countries do not allow civilians to own a rifle or handgun of military caliber. I have seen a lot of that caliber sold in France and several other countries. It does do the job quite well. Just my idea. Good luck figuring out how they arrived at their conclusions. ATB

[gamekeeper]

I can't imagine .22LR not heading the list.

+ 1

[preventec47]

[quote="marlinman93"]I would guess this is based on all ammo sold, so that would account for the military calibers being high on the list. I'm shocked the .270 is there, as I didn't think it was all that popular. Even more shocked that the .30-30 isn't there![/quote]

Right, I should have said most manufactured and sold rifle ammo the world over. The .270 was the only non military
caliber to make the top five.... Arguably the 30-06 is now non military as well but that is how it got its start.

[JRD]

Granted, we don't know the source for the original list, but in regards to the 270 Winchester I'll relate a story.

My boss at a former employer was a Christian who grew up in Iran and escaped the country after the revolution by being smuggled on a camel across the border in the middle of the night. I was talking hunting with him one time and somehow we mentioned the 270. His eyes lit up and he started talking about the 270 and what a reverred round it was in Iran. Maybe it goes back to the Shah and his sheep hunting.
It's been a while since the Shah was hunting in Iran so any interest spurred by him probably is diminished. Not being a military caliber could be a factor as well.

Jason

[Rusty]

Well it does say the WORLD'S favorite calibers. How popular is the .270 in Africa and S. America?

I never realized all the details of the .270 until we got grandpa's old .270 for Jr. Jack O'Connor said that the cartridge is "perfectly balanced" and if you look at the numbers I can see where he comes to that conclusion.

[Canuck Bob]

I must also throw the 303 Brit in this list. As a world caliber it is without question to me. Unless centerfire only the 22LR must be included. Now if this list were American only it would be a little more valid. There are others like the mauser series that need considering.

[Cliff]

Just a bit more. When Ruger introduced the Mini-14 their first big order was from the French national Police. They bought up a whole bunch, but the caliber was .222 Remingtion, as even they were not allowed military caliber weapons at that time. The action on the Mini-14 was made a bit shorter for this caliber so it could not be converted to .223 or 5.56 NATO caliber. I remember seeing their use right after Ruger brought the series out, by french security police. I also remember reading at the end of WWII a lot of european countries found the civilains were policing up and hiding war weapons, Rifles, some machine guns, handguns and so on, just in case it happened again. They couldn't scour the countryside to retrieve these scavaged weapons so some countries put out bans on what calibers people could access in the market place. I don't know how it runs today. Just a bit of trivia, no expert on me. ATB

[Griff]

I'm kinda glad to see my favorite cartridges are on this list. 'Cause all the other sheep would be wantin' those!

[bdhold]

certainly 22LR is the single most fired round ever.
My understanding is the .243 has more projectile variants than any other round ever.

[Arminius]

no 7 x 57 (R)?

No 7 x 64 ( x 65R )?

no 9.3 x62?

--->>> no "World" list, only "USA" list!

Hermann

[Griff]

no "World" list, only "USA" list!
Hermann

Okay, that 'splains it! All them doomsday'rs are having an effect on the economy!

[tman]

.22lr,9mm, .357 needs to be on that list

[El Chivo]

does anybody use 30-30 outside the US?

[L_Kilkenny]

Seem's pretty obvious to me that they were only considering centerfire rifle cartridges. Kinda a duh.

LK

[preventec47]

I read the info in a current gun rag speaking about some association of ammo manufacturers and the worldwide demand for ammo etc. I am talking about current production
by all the worlds ammo manufacturers. Yes I quite agree the
list would be different if it only included sportsmen and hunting
hobby use etc. Naturally the militarys of the world eat up
the NATO rounds .223 and .308 and the evil empires use a lot
of AK-47 type stuff. That only leaves 30-06 and .270 to account for. I'd say the WW-II rifles left a mighty impression
the world over for 30-06 that is ever lasting. The .270 just
seemed earn its way into the hearts of the world. Funny it
is a cousin/descendent of the 30-06 but it has higher pressures... in fact it has same pressures as belted magnums.

Just take a look at all the current mfg rifles in the world and
you will always find .270 among the few calibers they
are chambered in. I do know this, If I could only ever have
one caliber rifle, it would be a .270. From 100 to 150gr it
can be about anything you want it to be.

Response to the older military ammo calibers such as
7.62x54 and 8mm Mauser etc. yea no doubt billions
of rounds of those have been manufactured in the past
but they are not hi on the list today.
Same thing with 30/30s.... heck I see .270 ammo for same
price as 30/30 on store shelves. I'd say 30/30s best
days were up until 40 or 50 years ago.

Ironically in the same article I also read this,
what country do you think has bought the most AK-47s in the last decade ? ?

Surprise.... the USA. We have spent hundreds of millions
to arm other countries with them. Hell of a lot cheaper
than our AR type .556 weapons... and more reliable too for the illiterate with no cleaning tools. That is a big wow.

No wonder our country has per capita national dept larger
than Greece. YEP, thats right but sorry not meaning to
veer off into politics.

[Mescalero]

The data does not gel with logic.......... sorry.

[madman4570]

The data does not gel with logic.......... sorry.

Where the 7mm Rem Mag starts to wander away a tad from the .270 Win is with the heavier bullets.
Also those wishing to hand load and push the 7mm's limits.(more case volume)

However that darn .270 is pretty close(factory loads)in the 140/150gr loads.
Example---the .270 Federal H.E. load pushes a 140gr Trophy Bonded bullet 3100fps as well as their 150gr Sierra Game King running at 3000fps

These tend to run around 100-130fps slower than comprable loadings from the 7mm Mag (animal won't notice the difference)
Now, if you are talking (brown Bears give me a stout Loaded 7mm Mag with 175 grainer )

There is a loading out for the .270 that gives unreal trajectory figures now.(I am talking 22-250 trajectories)
It is the Winchester Supreme Elite XP3(150gr at 2950fps)
Sighted in at 200yds at 400 yds it is only -15.5" low

Not one of the 63 loadings given for the 7mm Mag meets that(2012 Shooters Bible,103 Edition)

Now,you want a barn burner for the 7mm(that does not kick much)but is fantastic??)
Federal 165gr Sierra GameKing BTSP

Also I know 86er has great results with the Swift Sicirocco in 7mm bullets

But,yes----.270 Win absolute stunning caliber.


Last match I shot at the Towanda,Pa Rod & Gun club (ways back now) (offhand-- any gun/any scope)as long as it was center fire and .222 and up(that place was packed, I mean people came from all over heck)and the boys at that club(real serious dudes)
Got to the finals(last 2 men standing ) with this farmer dude toting his Remington 760/3X9 Leupold Gold Ring (dude's name was Ron Smith)and it was in .270 Win.
He sent me home packing! close,but not close enough (I had a open sighted Win 70 in 7mm Rem Mag too)