Most popular caliber for handguns

[cmichael22]

And why do you think so?

[mr surveyor]

pretty obvious that 9mm is currently the "most popular" in semi-auto pistols.

and in revolvers, 38 spl is most likely the current queen.

why?????? sales!



edit to add: the above does not necessarily reflect my personal choices

[Bawanna]

45 because wider is better! Fatter bullets give me a better chance of hitting what I'm aiming at.

Plus it's sinonimos with the 1911 the holy grail of what a hand gun should be.

[mr surveyor]

is this "personal preference" or "most popular"?

I didn't even see the "poll" when I responded, so I have yet to hit a check box.


as I said before, my personal choices aren't necessarily what I think are the most popular choices. But, what do I know.... all I have now is my trusty RG14 snub in .22 cal:(

[cmichael22]

Its most popular. I voted for 380 and 9 because I think they sell the most but I like the .40 and .45 calibers more.

[XD40SC]

I've always thought that .40 was the ideal caliber, but I just bought a P380, go figure!

[eklipto101]

Personally I'll say .45acp why,....the .9mm could expand but the .45 will not shrink

[JERRY]

most popular is the 9mm for handgun use, based on sales. .22lr for over all rounds sold.

[downtownv]

I'm getting ready to start reloading and can tell you of the range ammo casings I been gathering up 9,40 ,45 in that order.
BUT that could very well be based on range shooting the least expensive gun/ammo also.

[Fredr500]

Which makes more sense, several pistols of the same caliber so you just need to stock up on one size ammo, or several calipers so if one size can't be found you have other choices?

[CJB]

You just say popular....

In terms of gun sales or in terms of ammo sales?

Gun sales... hard to say 9mm or 45auto

Ammo sales .22LR hands down.

~~~

For me, the most popular caliber is the one I've got with me when I need it the most.

[Popeye]

For handguns I'd say the 9mm simply because it fills most peoples requirements. Good mulitpurpose round, for SD ,HD and target shooting where you don't have to break the bank to become proficent with it.

Overall rounds sold though I believe would still be, and always will be be the 22LR.

[Barth]

Around the world 9mm has to be the clear landslide winner.
Domestically 9mm followed closely by 40 S&W.
With 60+ % of all U.S. LE running 40 S&W that's substantial.
Although our armed forces, much like the rest of the world, mostly run 9mm.

My personal preference for self defense would be; 357 Magnum, 357 Sig, 40 S&W or 45 ACP.
When I can carry what I want?
Winchester Ranger T-Series/Federal HST .45 ACP 230 gr +P.

[Bill K]

I voted 9mm. Similar to Barth I thought about the use of 9mm by many armed forces both domestic and foreign.

[QuercusMax]

I have no way of knowing what everyone else is doing, but -

I voted for .22LR because I have more handguns in that caliber than any other, and I have shot more rounds in that caliber than any other. For me, more rounds = more fun. :33:

By the same criteria, .45ACP would be my 2nd choice, and 9x19mm my 3rd.

.32ACP is a sentimental favorite for me, being the caliber of my very first handgun (Colt 1903 pocket hammerless), although almost nobody uses this caliber any more and I rarely shoot it myself.

Also not popular with the masses, and not even on the ballot, are 2 others that I like but don't shoot as often as the others, thus "honorable mention":
- .45 Colt (aka "45 Long Colt") in my cowboy gun
- 5.7x28mm, the little rifle bullets, in my special gun. This caliber is currently in short supply, unfortunately.

[johnk568]

Howdy,

The .45 first
the .40 second
the .22 third
the .40 fourth
the 9 fifth

As a 1911 lover, I admit the .45 is the best(for me), but I do have one in 9MM and one in .22lr. I plunk with .22, compete with the 9MM, and carry the .45. Almost the same weight, but great for me. The .40 is in the BOB with 2 Glock 22's & a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 that takes glock mags.

So saying that, I think the .45 is the better caliber than the rest. JMB was the wizard who perfected the 1911, so I'll go with it. I think all calibers list are ok in certain situations, like the .32 & .380. These are for people with disabilities, for light weight carry. I know my Wife, who is partially handicapped, couldn't handle my .45, but shoots her 9MM very accurately.

johnk568

[Charlie98]

Personal preference... .45ACP

Factually... probably .22LR but there is no way to know how much .22LR sold actually is used in handguns.

[MW surveyor]

You should have titled this "Most popular semi-auto calibers".

You left out two of my favorites, 38 spl and 357 revolver rounds.

I voted for the 9 mm for center fire but I'd be willing to bet that there are more rounds sold for 22 lr that are used in pistols.

For the definitive answer, you could ask WalMart. LOL

[mr surveyor]

I'm still not sure what the original question is related to. Is it what is most popular just here at Kahr Talk, in the USA, in the world, universe...?

[MW surveyor]

And why do you think so?

There you go mr surveyor! :yo:

[Barth]

I'm still not sure what the original question is related to. Is it what is most popular just here at Kahr Talk, in the USA, in the world, universe...?

I'm pretty sure it's most popular on Call of Duty XXX "Where is my joy stick?".
I actually read a post about this game boy not understanding why his real gun had so much recoil -LOL!
It's amazing to me that these couch potatoes actually think they have operator skills by playing video games.
That's my rant for the day - LOL!

Call of Nerds - Modern Joystick II
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/3014887491_c9d37c3946.jpg

[QuercusMax]

I'm still not sure what the original question is related to. Is it what is most popular just here at Kahr Talk, in the USA, in the world, universe...?

I can't speak for the OP's intention, but clearly this thread is just to give us another subject we can all chime in on, discuss, and voice our varied opinions on.

I come here to gain knowledge or to be entertained. Both are useful. This thread is in the latter category.

[MW surveyor]

While I know that some women do play video games (my youngest daughter) they are not wrapped up in this kind of stuff.

Get off your lazy ***, get outside and experience the real world!

Yes, this will be a good one for thread hijacking and drift. :bump2:

[TheTman]

In terms of sales, I would say .22, 9mm, 38, 357. 380. then 40, then 44 special/magnum.

For CC, 9mm, 380, 45, 38, then 40.

[wyntrout]

I'm sure that the 9mm is more popular... more purchased and used by the public... for self defense. My favorite caliber is the .45... AND in 230 grains. Since I sold one, I have three .45's and three 9mm's. My EDC favorite has become my Mag-na-ported P40(with metal base plate)... with the PM9 second, and my PM45 has become third... mainly due to size and weight considerations... plus power, of course.
Before I got a polymer Kahr... over a decade, my EDC was a Walther TPH in .22LR carried IWB with Stingers loaded. My loaded P380 weighs a fraction of an ounce less that the loaded TPH, and with BB +P Gold Dots loaded, it's very formidable, but not really an EDC.

Wynn:)

[muggsy]

Bar none the .22 LR. Everyone who is anyone has at least one. I currently own three.

[JohnR]

What do I think is most popular as a whole, or which is my personal favorite? I think 9mm is the most popular, but my personal choice is .45 because I can make as big a hole with a .45 FMJ as I might with a 9mm hollow point, at the same or less cost. Or, I might be able to make a really big hole with a .45 hollow point. Plus, .45ACP just feels right to me.

[wyntrout]

Most... if not all, .22LR's DO NOT expand when fired from a 2 to 3-inch barrel, BUT the .22LR Stingers have the most velocity and penetration in test... for a non-expanding round. Check out ballistics by the inch for other ammo:

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/22.html

Wynn:)

[jocko]

45 because wider is better! Fatter bullets give me a better chance of hitting what I'm aiming at.

Plus it's sinonimos with the 1911 the holy grail of what a hand gun should be.

45 guys jpretty soon willbe able to call ur selves the 1% ers.. Just sayin

I buet u guys hate those kind of poll where even the 380 out do u poor suckers, who like the big holes no matter how long it takes tomake tha thole.

[jocko]

Personally I'll say .45acp why,....the .9mm could expand but the .45 will not shrink

poetry, nuttin else..:D u could also add that 45's are even reusuable to

[AJBert]

I voted 9mm, though I don't even own one. Not sure I ever will. Give me a .45 or .40 and I'm happy. Though I do send more .22's down range than anything else, maybe more than all others combined.

[Planedude]

I'm pretty sure it's most popular on Call of Duty XXX "Where is my joy stick?".
I actually read a post about this game boy not understanding why his real gun had so much recoil -LOL!
It's amazing to me that these couch potatoes actually think they have operator skills by playing video games.
That's my rant for the day - LOL!

Call of Nerds - Modern Joystick II
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/3014887491_c9d37c3946.jpg


My son plays "Call of duty" as a beta tester. He became an expert at crashing the online game because of his crazy play. The game builders offered him a job assuming he was some uber geek. Not so, just plays like a madman. He credits things he learned online with his skills playing paintball ( with a $1500 paint "gun" :eek:) where he is considered Semi-pro (?).
You can learn something from the games But you got to get off the couch and use it.

Oh and I voted for .45acp, because they never made a .46acp...
A Mans cartridge for the ages.:cool:

[mr surveyor]

I used to shoot a lot of .22's, until I started reloading. Now I find myself shooting almost nothing but .357, .44 mag, .45 acp and a small bit of .38 spl. In the last two years, I probably haven't shot a full bulk box of .22. It's not really cheaper at my current rate, but I don't go to the range as much as I did 4-5 years ago either. I really prefer the larger holes for things that need perforating.