Special Report
These Gun Calibers Are Used the Most to Commit Crimes in the US
Published:
Firearm sales have surged in the United States in recent years. Based on FBI background check data, a proxy for sales, Americans bought an estimated 39.7 million firearms in 2020, a record high. Though gun sales dipped slightly the following year, to about 38.9 million, 2021 was still the second biggest year for gun sales in the United States.
Historic firearm sales figures have coincided with rising rates of gun violence. Active shooter incidents spiked by over 50% from 2020 to 2021, and the number of violent crimes involving firearms increased by more than 30% over the same period, according to the FBI.
While the vast majority of civilian-owned firearms in the U.S. are used for legitimate purposes, including target shooting, collecting, hunting, and home defense, every firearm is a lethal weapon which, in the wrong hands, can be used unlawfully, including to kill or coerce. And certain types of guns are far more likely to be used by criminals than others. (Here is a look at the city in each state with the most gun-related crimes.)
Using gun tracing data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 24/7 Wall St. identified the firearm calibers most commonly used in crime in 2021. Our list includes rifle, handgun, and shotgun calibers and gauges.
Guns that are traced by the ATF are typically those found at crime scenes and are either have been used, or are suspected to have been used, to commit a crime. Though it is important to note that not all firearms used in a crime are traced.
All told, the ATF traced over 450,000 firearms nationwide in 2021, up 16% from about 390,000 in 2020. The vast majority of these firearms are chambered for rounds typically used by handguns, which are relatively easy to conceal. The handgun calibers on this list include .25, .32, and .380 – chambers commonly found in small, cheap firearms that have historically been widely available on the black market.
Other firearm types and chamberings that rank highly on this list include those that are widely popular with law-abiding gun enthusiasts and sports women and men, such as .22, a popular caliber for both rifles and pistols, 12 gauge shotguns, .40 caliber handguns and 9mm handguns. (Here is a look at the 14 most versatile rifle cartridges for hunting.)
Click here to see the firearm calibers used the most to commit crimes in the US.
28. .243 caliber
> All .243 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 503
> 1-yr. change in traced .243 caliber firearms: -18.5% (-114)
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Varmint hunting, deer hunting
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27. .50 caliber
> All .50 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 506
> 1-yr. change in traced .50 caliber firearms: -12.0% (-69)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Hunting, target shooting
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26. 16 gauge
> All 16 gauge firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 529
> 1-yr. change in traced 16 gauge firearms: +2.5% (+13)
> Most common gun type: Shotgun
> Common legal usages: Home defense, hunting, target shooting
25. .30 caliber
> All .30 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 571
> 1-yr. change in traced .30 caliber firearms: +18.2% (+88)
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Target shooting, small and medium game hunting
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24. .270 caliber
> All .270 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 687
> 1-yr. change in traced .270 caliber firearms: -11.9% (-93)
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Hunting, target shooting
23. .300 caliber
> All .300 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 1,101
> 1-yr. change in traced .300 caliber firearms: +8.4% (+85)
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, law enforcement, big game hunting
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22. .30-30 caliber
> All .30-30 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 1,139
> 1-yr. change in traced .30-30 caliber firearms: -12.4% (-161)
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Hunting
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21. .45 caliber/.410 Bore
> All .45 caliber/.410 Bore firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 1,339
> 1-yr. change in traced .45 caliber/.410 Bore firearms: +4.8% (+61)
> Most common gun type: Handgun/shotgun
> Common legal usages: Self defense
20. .410 Bore
> All .410 Bore firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 1,443
> 1-yr. change in traced .410 Bore firearms: -6.8% (-106)
> Most common gun type: Shotgun
> Common legal usages: Hunting, target shooting, home defense
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19. .30-06 caliber
> All .30-06 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 1,449
> 1-yr. change in traced .30-06 caliber firearms: -8.7% (-138)
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, big game hunting
18. .308 caliber
> All .308 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 1,585
> 1-yr. change in traced .308 caliber firearms: +2.6% (+40)
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, law enforcement, big game hunting
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17. .44 caliber
> All .44 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 1,722
> 1-yr. change in traced .44 caliber firearms: -8.9% (-168)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Law enforcement, hunting
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16. 10mm
> All 10mm firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 2,495
> 1-yr. change in traced 10mm firearms: +42.7% (+746)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Hunting, self defense
15. 20 gauge
> All 20 gauge firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 2,997
> 1-yr. change in traced 20 gauge firearms: -10.5% (-350)
> Most common gun type: Shotgun
> Common legal usages: Home defense, hunting, target shooting
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14. 5.7mm
> All 5.7mm firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 3,183
> 1-yr. change in traced 5.7mm firearms: +88.9% (+1,498)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Military, law enforcement, target shooting
13. .32 caliber
> All .32 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 4,361
> 1-yr. change in traced .32 caliber firearms: -3.6% (-163)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Self defense, target shooting
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12. .25 caliber
> All .25 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 4,870
> 1-yr. change in traced .25 caliber firearms: -10.2% (-551)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Self defense, target shooting
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11. .223 caliber
> All .223 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 5,444
> 1-yr. change in traced .223 caliber firearms: +13.6% (+652)
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, hunting
10. 7.62mm
> All 7.62mm firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 8,133
> 1-yr. change in traced 7.62mm firearms: +1.3% (+107)
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, law enforcement, big game hunting
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9. .357 caliber
> All .357 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 8,422
> 1-yr. change in traced .357 caliber firearms: +0.0% (-03)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Hunting, self defense, target shooting
8. 5.56mm
> All 5.56mm firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 10,780
> 1-yr. change in traced 5.56mm firearms: +19.4% (+1,748)
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, hunting
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7. .38 caliber
> All .38 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 16,292
> 1-yr. change in traced .38 caliber firearms: -2.5% (-422)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Target shooting, self defense
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6. 12 gauge
> All 12 gauge firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 18,989
> 1-yr. change in traced 12 gauge firearms: +1.7% (+311)
> Most common gun type: Shotgun
> Common legal usages: Law enforcement, home defense, hunting, target shooting
5. .45 caliber
> All .45 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 28,640
> 1-yr. change in traced .45 caliber firearms: +5.6% (+1,531)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Law enforcement
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4. .380 caliber
> All .380 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 30,263
> 1-yr. change in traced .380 caliber firearms: +1.2% (+360)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Self defense
3. .22 caliber
> All .22 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 35,743
> 1-yr. change in traced .22 caliber firearms: +2.0% (+717)
> Most common gun type: Rifle, handgun
> Common legal usages: Target shooting, small game hunting
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2. .40 caliber
> All .40 caliber firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 48,335
> 1-yr. change in traced .40 caliber firearms: +5.5% (+2,521)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Law enforcement, self defense
1. 9mm
> All 9mm firearms traced by the ATF in 2021: 197,634
> 1-yr. change in traced 9mm firearms: +35.5% (+51,819)
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Military, law enforcement, self defense, target shooting
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