Having had the opportunity to work with people in the firearms industry throughout the world, I can appreciate many things, including the second amendment rights that we have here in the US. There really isn’t anything quite like it elsewhere, and we assume too much.

Among the many things that I have observed is the diversity of caliber preferences worldwide. I think 22 caliber is universally accepted for rifles, as is 9mm for handguns, but after that, it gets interesting.

I think 30 cal. is the next of the top calibers, with other similar sizes ranked closely behind. I am not a ballistics expert, but I do know that 30 and 308 are used for hunting game, as is 243, 25, 270 and 284. And, I guess, some 204 for small game.

Then there is 17 cal., which could also be used for tiny varmints, and target shooting. I quickly think of the Air Rifle category, but that is correctly a 177 caliber, along with the 22, most popularly. I certainly understand the benefit of grading accurate paper target results with smaller bullet holes, as well as providing a great platform for training with a lighter load, and at a lesser price per round.

For Shotguns, 12 gauge is definitely number one. But, based on country and niche discipline, preferences can vary. Whether you are shooting moving targets or bird hunting, 20, 28 and 410 are used, as well as 10 gauge, which is very rare in the States, along with 16 and other choices.

The Handgun market is clearly hot, where allowed, and 9mm is closely followed by 45, and to a lesser extent 40. Though 22, 25 and 10mm all make a case. In the US, for example, 9mm is finding its way into usage in the long gun category.

That takes us back to Rifle calibers. Beyond 22, 30 and the others that I mentioned, the 6.5mm has migrated in popularity from Europe into the US in recent years. And, for some places in Europe, 7.92/8mm has a significant following. That is one caliber that I still haven’t had the pleasure to experience.

Also in Europe, among many choices, 9.3, 5.4, 32 and 7mm seem to be in demand. That follows more classically recognized rounds such as the 338, 375 and 284. For handguns, there is still a good following for the 357, 38 and the 50 cal., if you can’t live without a big boom, not to mention a big kick. Maybe that’s why it is typically reserved for military-grade medium caliber platforms.

If you are interested, research, and better yet, experience the differences between calibers. I think everyone agrees that test results really do vary, and no matter what the load, the performance of any bullet is determined by its design, not to mention the bore that it travels through. The question is, will you excel as a precision shooter, capable of hitting a target at long range, and from a standing position? Maybe not, but it’s always fun trying.

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