[T-Rod45]

I have always thought, in a major SHTF/TEOTWAWKI scenario, I'd want at least one pistol and rifle chambered in the most common, readily available caliber.

So my question is, excluding .22lr, does anyone know what the most common pistol and rifle cartridges are in the country?

[Vanilla-gorilla]

I read some where is was the .45 acp and the .223 ( since not counting the .22 lr).

Othere folks say 9mm. /shrug

[cysoto]

Originally Posted by T-Rod45

So my question is, excluding .22lr, does anyone know what the most common pistol and rifle cartridges are in the country?

I don't have any statistical data but, if I had to guess, I will venture to say that the .40 S&W is probably the most common caliber currently available in the US. I say this because this is the caliber of choice of most Law Enforcement Agencies.

The most common rifle caliber is undoubtedly the good-ol' .223 (for the same reason).

[Zombie Steve]

Originally Posted by T-Rod45

I have always thought, in a major SHTF/TEOTWAWKI scenario, I'd want at least one pistol and rifle chambered in the most common, readily available caliber.

So my question is, excluding .22lr, does anyone know what the most common pistol and rifle cartridges are in the country?

I've always thought in a major SHTF/TEOTWAWKI scenario, I'd want a bunch of ammo already stockpiled so I don't have to go scrounge from others or depend on anyone else.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by Zombie Steve

I've always thought in a major SHTF/TEOTWAWKI scenario, I'd want a bunch of ammo already stockpiled so I don't have to go scrounge from others or depend on anyone else.

A large stockpile is geeat if you stay put w/ 7-8 others,but you can only carry so much.
I would say it's 223 & 9mm. Any current military round usually has the leg up on everything else. The 40 has got to be pretty close due to all the LEA using it, but I'ld bet more 9mm handguns are sold every years than any other caliber.

[Javelin]

My guess would be 12 gauge... or 72 caliber to the lay person

[T-Rod45]

Originally Posted by Zombie Steve

I've always thought in a major SHTF/TEOTWAWKI scenario, I'd want a bunch of ammo already stockpiled so I don't have to go scrounge from others or depend on anyone else.

That is a valid standpoint, however it's all the way to one side of the spectrum. Assuming you are heavily fortified, with enough renewable resources to sustain you indefinitely, bug-in and be merry. I personally have always leaned to the side where eventually the need will arise to go mobile. In that case, this foresight will prove invaluable. A house with a million rounds of ammo is worthless if it gets over run or destroyed. Likewise, a gun with no ammo is about as useful as a rock.

Originally Posted by Vanilla-gorilla

I read some where is was the .45 acp and the .223 ( since not counting the .22 lr).

Othere folks say 9mm. /shrug

Originally Posted by cysoto

I don't have any statistical data but, if I had to guess, I will venture to say that the .40 S&W is probably the most common caliber currently available in the US. I say this because this is the caliber of choice of most Law Enforcement Agencies.

The most common rifle caliber is undoubtedly the good-ol' .223 (for the same reason).

I've speculated that .223/5.56 would be the most common rifle cartrige (good, because I have a 5.56 AR. Also, I thought that the .40/9 might be a close tie for pistol caliber due to LE applications. The .45 ACP would be a nice option because my Glock 21 is dead-nuts reliable.

I was thinking that if I needed to bug out I'd want to travel light, with a .22lr pistol as my last resort BUG, my AR as my primary defensive weapon, and ideally ONE defensive pistol in the most common caliber (preferably a Glock. Options I've considered have also included a Glock 23 with Lone Wolf 9mm and .357sig barrels and extra mags, essentially 3 pistols in 1 with less weight...

Lastly, hunting while on the run would realistically be limited to small game. Would a .223 likely render a squirrel or rabbit into useless bits n pieces, making a .22 rifle necessary, or will it be ok?

[cysoto]

Originally Posted by T-Rod45

Would a .223 likely render a squirrel or rabbit into useless bits n pieces, making a .22 rifle necessary, or will it be ok?

I made the mistake of "hunting" a rabbit with a .223 once. There wasn't much meat left on that rabbit...

[T-Rod45]

Originally Posted by cysoto

I made the mistake of "hunting" a rabbit with a .223 once. There wasn't much meat left on that rabbit...

Damn. Looks like I'll need to add a second rifle to the mix...

[banger]

Simply on a W.A.G., I agree with "Javelin" and would say the 12 ga.

I would hedge my bet and give a strong possible to the 30-30 WCF.

This is based on the idea that for over a century, countless rifles have been produced by numerous manufacturers and "Squirreled away" by their owners.

[barth]

I don't know the answer to that question.
My solution to a major guacamole hit the fan event is my G27.
Have barrels and mags to run 9/357/40 from one gun.
That should cover some of the bases...

[Brucev]

Originally Posted by T-Rod45

I have always thought, in a major SHTF/TEOTWAWKI scenario, I'd want at least one pistol and rifle chambered in the most common, readily available caliber.

So my question is, excluding .22lr, does anyone know what the most common pistol and rifle cartridges are in the country?

Most common? In terms of firearms... probably 12 ga. shotguns. In terms of handguns... probably .38 Special. In terms of rifles... probably .30-30 or maybe .30-06. Now... as to what is the most popular caliber ranked by current sales... 9mm for handguns and .223/5.56mm for rifles. Everything else takes the rest.

[Zombie Steve]

Originally Posted by fredj338

A large stockpile is geeat if you stay put w/ 7-8 others,but you can only carry so much.

Originally Posted by T-Rod45

That is a valid standpoint, however it's all the way to one side of the spectrum. Assuming you are heavily fortified, with enough renewable resources to sustain you indefinitely, bug-in and be merry. I personally have always leaned to the side where eventually the need will arise to go mobile. In that case, this foresight will prove invaluable. A house with a million rounds of ammo is worthless if it gets over run or destroyed. Likewise, a gun with no ammo is about as useful as a rock.

That's why you don't put all your eggs in one basket.

[9mm +p+]

Non shotgun long gun would be a tie, 7.62x39/223 tons of AK/SKS's in the mix that the ar crowd overlooks. Handgun has to be 9mm, hoping that you'll be able to "resupply" off of others is foolish in the extreme, get what you need now. That makes choice of caliber up to you instead of up to trendiness.

[dkf]

A 12gauge is very common an the most versitile. You can hunt squirrels to moose with it. Only have birdshot available, make cut shells or wax shells.

Honestly I don't get all worked up about SHTF. I'd mainly want to protect my property and stay put as long as possible so the stock pile and reloading components make more sense. I feel in a lot of cases wandering around aimlessly is a fools errand. Travel can be problematic in a lot of areas anyway.

[windplex]

Originally Posted by dkf

A 12gauge is very common an the most versitile. You can hunt squirrels to moose with it. Only have birdshot available, make cut shells or wax shells.

...

i watched some videos on those -- never heard of it before -- thanks.

i wonder if anyone has shot ballistic gel to see the results. i know bg is not the end all performance predictor but it would be interesting to see a static display of where the pellets end up.

[LASTRESORT20]

Originally Posted by fredj338

A large stockpile is geeat if you stay put w/ 7-8 others,but you can only carry so much.
I would say it's 223 & 9mm. Any current military round usually has the leg up on everything else. The 40 has got to be pretty close due to all the LEA using it, but I'ld bet more 9mm handguns are sold every years than any other caliber.

This ^^^

[cowboy1964]

9mm and .223/5.56 would be about the most optimal combo possible. I wouldn't sweat it though if I had .40 and .308 or 7.62 or something. .45 is dang popular too, but the size/weight (in)efficiency hampers it a bit IMO for a TEOTWAWKI scenario.

If you have a revolver obviously .38 Special is king.

[Mark10]

my guess would be 9mm for handgun and 223 for rifle
these stats must be available some where

[dkf]

Originally Posted by windplex

i watched some videos on those -- never heard of it before -- thanks.

i wonder if anyone has shot ballistic gel to see the results. i know bg is not the end all performance predictor but it would be interesting to see a static display of where the pellets end up.

Yeah I just heard of and learned about them myself not too long ago. Also known as improvised shells. There are some decent vids on Youtube. They look pretty handy and devastating to boot.

[tcruse]

If you consider needing to carry/transport a large amount of ammo, I think that it would be very nice to have common ammo between pistol and rifle. Also, you have to consider the ammo weight and size as to increase quantity that can be transported. It seems to me then you would have to consider 5.7x28 for both. Small light weight rounds that work well as a pistol round and a rifle round.

[T-Rod45]

Originally Posted by tcruse

If you consider needing to carry/transport a large amount of ammo, I think that it would be very nice to have common ammo between pistol and rifle. Also, you have to consider the ammo weight and size as to increase quantity that can be transported. It seems to me then you would have to consider 5.7x28 for both. Small light weight rounds that work well as a pistol round and a rifle round.

That would be ideal. Problem is, once you run out of ammo, good luck finding more! :(

[fastbolt]

.357 Magnum (meaning really thinking about finding .38 Spl, but wanting the ability to chamber any Magnum loads that might appear).

.30-30

[flynlead]

Originally Posted by T-Rod45

Damn. Looks like I'll need to add a second rifle to the mix...

You can shoot 22LR with your AR

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[Javelin]

Originally Posted by flynlead

You can shoot 22LR with your AR

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With a new BCG & magazine yes.