mljdeckard
Member
I don't know at all that hunting is on the decline. In states where it is popular, it is as popular as ever, if not more. for the last few years, Utah's restricted deer tags have sold out state-wide.
Most widespread CF rifle ammo?
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kBob
Member
I think nationally it would be pretty close on .30-06, .30-30, .270, .243.....
Mostly depends on where those houses are...... Form Virginia on around to Mexico along the coasts and one state deep I would bet it is still the .30-30.
Some places out west the .30-06 (where there are Elk) and others (where there are not .270. Moose states in the North east likely have .30-06.
I think the .30-06 and .30-30 are likely too close to call nationally.
Of course some one mentioned the Mosin imports........actually I suspect there are more SKS imports as some estimates of 6 million or more were imported, that and the various AK clones, Mini-30s and CZ bolt guns might just make 7.62x 39 a strong contender as well.
I do believe that most folks really under estimate the number of 5.56/.223 ARs out there and that it has a good chance of displacing the three .30s if not now maybe next week.
So I guess my answer would be I don't know and neither does anyone else really.
-kBob
Mostly depends on where those houses are...... Form Virginia on around to Mexico along the coasts and one state deep I would bet it is still the .30-30.
Some places out west the .30-06 (where there are Elk) and others (where there are not .270. Moose states in the North east likely have .30-06.
I think the .30-06 and .30-30 are likely too close to call nationally.
Of course some one mentioned the Mosin imports........actually I suspect there are more SKS imports as some estimates of 6 million or more were imported, that and the various AK clones, Mini-30s and CZ bolt guns might just make 7.62x 39 a strong contender as well.
I do believe that most folks really under estimate the number of 5.56/.223 ARs out there and that it has a good chance of displacing the three .30s if not now maybe next week.
So I guess my answer would be I don't know and neither does anyone else really.
-kBob
That's a good way of looking at it.
I'm with you, I'd wager there are more with an -06 and no 5.56 than the other way around.
Of course, there might only be 14 rounds of .30-06 in many of these households, or some such number. I think we can all probably agree that in terms of volume/quantity, rather than rate of incidence, 5.56/.223 easily wins. The AR15 has, we believe, been the best selling rifle-type for awhile after all. I wouldn't be surprised if, down the road, the answer to his question changes.
I didn't say it was on the decline. I said that while gun ownership was on the rise, hunting is not. That's different (think about it). In some places, hunting may be as popular as it ever was, but as the population ages and grows, hunting at least declines as a percentage of population, and perhaps in absolute terms also.
And what abut those that have a 223 but no 06? All of the people getting into shooting for self/home defense and target/fun shooting are more likely to buy a MSR than an 06.
I don't know that 223 has replaced 06 as the leader, but most of the new shooters are not hunters.
mljdeckard
Member
I still say it varies by region. Some places are completely maxed out. And in many places, the fact that .223 can't be used for hunting may actually hurt its popularity.
Somebody who knows how to create a poll should poll the THR readership. We're a pretty diverse lot, and may well provide a snapshot of the gun owning populace. I think the relevant categories would be:
- Own a rifle in 223 but not 30-06
- Own a rifle in 30-06 but not 223
- Own rifles in both 223 and 30-06
I don't think we need a "don't own either" category, as folks in that category should simply not respond at all.
Somebody up for this?
- Own a rifle in 223 but not 30-06
- Own a rifle in 30-06 but not 223
- Own rifles in both 223 and 30-06
I don't think we need a "don't own either" category, as folks in that category should simply not respond at all.
Somebody up for this?
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=715239
I'm not sure that the rifle section is really the best place due to lower viewership than a general firearms forum, but that's where I put it.
Everyone seems to be forgetting the millions of Garands, 1903's and other military guns in 30.06 out there.
Yes.
I almost responded that I had a 5.56/.223, but no .30-06...then I realized I have a Garand chambered in .30-06, lulz. I just forget about that caliber because I bought all of my ammo from the CMP. I don't know how that makes sense, but it does. To me anyway
OleReb
Member
I bet it would be .308 with .223/5.56 coming up fast,atleast that seems to be the most common in my area with 30-30 and 7.62x39 very close behind. I know 30-06 has been around for along time but i dont see it as being nearly as common/popular as it once was,the people that are buying 1 gun nowdays arent buying a 30-06 usually.
Don357
Member
Without actually crunching numbers, 1. .223/5.56x45 or 7.62x39, 2. 7.62x51/.308 or 7.62x63/.30-06. from there it's pretty much a mish-mash of the other 'uber-magnum' hunting rounds, many of which have found their way into the military inventory.
A recent study on this topic based on centerfire rifle cartridge sales list the top ten as follows:
1. .30-06 Springfield
2. .223 Remington
3. .270 Winchester
4. .30-30 (first on some lists)
5. .308 Winchester
6. .243 Winchester
7. 7mm Remington Magnum
8. .300 Winchester Magnum (.303 British on some lists, .30 Carbine on one list)
9. .22-250 Remington (.222 Remington on one list)
10. .338 Winchester Magnum
The 30-30 was number one for a long time.
.338 WM surprised me as number 10.
1. .30-06 Springfield
2. .223 Remington
3. .270 Winchester
4. .30-30 (first on some lists)
5. .308 Winchester
6. .243 Winchester
7. 7mm Remington Magnum
8. .300 Winchester Magnum (.303 British on some lists, .30 Carbine on one list)
9. .22-250 Remington (.222 Remington on one list)
10. .338 Winchester Magnum
The 30-30 was number one for a long time.
.338 WM surprised me as number 10.
Ash
Member
I have several 30-06's (bolt actions as well as a Garand), several 7.62x54r's, some 308's, a 7mm Mag, 30 carbine, 7.62x39, and exactly one 5.56.
To me, 30-06 remains the most versatile round in America. Were I to only own one rifle, it would be 30-06.
To me, 30-06 remains the most versatile round in America. Were I to only own one rifle, it would be 30-06.
DeadFlies
Member
I would bet it's .30-'06. But I also would bet .223 will soon overtake it as most popular.
justice06rr
Member
Well if you're talking mostly civilian only, I would guess that the -06 might be a little ahead.
But consider all the new shooters that have recently bought AR15's during the last 2 panics. I don't see anyone going out and buying 30-06 rifles during the panic.
I've owned about 6 AR15's, a couple of AK's, and a few bolt action rifles, but no 30-06.
If you consider that our military uses 5.56NATO, I would think that is more widely used than -06.
But consider all the new shooters that have recently bought AR15's during the last 2 panics. I don't see anyone going out and buying 30-06 rifles during the panic.
I've owned about 6 AR15's, a couple of AK's, and a few bolt action rifles, but no 30-06.
If you consider that our military uses 5.56NATO, I would think that is more widely used than -06.
oldpapps
Member
Speculation on my part.
I would think that in general a .22RF and a 12 Gage is universal. But for center fire rifles and pistols, I think that is going to be regional.
When I was a kid my dad had two British 303s and one uncle had a 300 Savage. I knew people that had 32-20s and 30-30s. But I can't say that I knew of anyone with a 30.06. If anyone had an 8MM Mauser, that fact would have been hidden from my uncles.
To the point of this post. In the open ground, flatter shooting rifles would become more prominent. In the hills and forests, the more traditional rounds would continue to dominate. Some areas are going to be pockets of one or another rifle.
The same may be said about pistols. But I would put my money on pistols chambered in .32 S&W, .38 S&W and even some .38 Specials. Well around where I grew up anyway.
Today, all bets are off. Mass marketing and greater supplies and hype are changing the mix.
I would think that in general a .22RF and a 12 Gage is universal. But for center fire rifles and pistols, I think that is going to be regional.
When I was a kid my dad had two British 303s and one uncle had a 300 Savage. I knew people that had 32-20s and 30-30s. But I can't say that I knew of anyone with a 30.06. If anyone had an 8MM Mauser, that fact would have been hidden from my uncles.
To the point of this post. In the open ground, flatter shooting rifles would become more prominent. In the hills and forests, the more traditional rounds would continue to dominate. Some areas are going to be pockets of one or another rifle.
The same may be said about pistols. But I would put my money on pistols chambered in .32 S&W, .38 S&W and even some .38 Specials. Well around where I grew up anyway.
Today, all bets are off. Mass marketing and greater supplies and hype are changing the mix.
The poll Warp put up here now has .223 ahead by a considerable margin: 71 votes for those who have both, 40 votes for those who have .223 only, and 16 votes for those who have .30-06 only. So in terms of the OP's original question, out of the total of 127 respondents, you would find .223 in the homes of 111, and .30-06 in the homes of 87, a margin of 34 in favor of .223.
Scientific? Of course not.
Suggestive? I think so.
Scientific? Of course not.
Suggestive? I think so.
As I am getting to be an old man I have consolidated my firearms and reloading into fewer and simpler. I sold or gave away to relatives those rifles that reached out beyond my eyesight. I have a single shot 45-70 that is too much fun to let go of but all of the true hunting calibers are gone. What I have done is kept a 357 mag rifle and pistol.
Buffalo Bore has turned 357 mag in a rifle into an old mans close up hunter, hog killer, home defense, plinker, fun gun and easy reloader. I think oldpappas and I are onto something here. If center fire pistol calibers can be thrown into this mix, you will find an awful lot of homes with 38sp and 357 mag. Ruger, Rossi, H&R, Winchester have figured this out and sell niche rifles to old coots like us, and there are getting to be more and more old coots as the baby boomers age.
I agree that 38sp and 357 mag are not normally considered centerfire RIFLE cartridges but there are an awful lot of them found in homes.
blindhari
Buffalo Bore has turned 357 mag in a rifle into an old mans close up hunter, hog killer, home defense, plinker, fun gun and easy reloader. I think oldpappas and I are onto something here. If center fire pistol calibers can be thrown into this mix, you will find an awful lot of homes with 38sp and 357 mag. Ruger, Rossi, H&R, Winchester have figured this out and sell niche rifles to old coots like us, and there are getting to be more and more old coots as the baby boomers age.
I agree that 38sp and 357 mag are not normally considered centerfire RIFLE cartridges but there are an awful lot of them found in homes.
blindhari
USSR
Member
What you have to understand when you are doing polling within a site such as this is, you are polling a younger and more involved in the shooting sports audience. I have no doubt that the .223 will outpoll any other rifle cartridge here. What you have to remember is, you have several states in which you have more than 500,000 hunters taking the field during deer season, and most of these guys are not represented here, and the number of these guys who own .30-06's for hunting and don't own .223's is enormous. So, for the purposes of determining the "most widespread CF rifle ammo", ammunition sales as reported by the manufacturers is likely to be a more accurate answer to the question.
Don
Don
Are you sure about that? Back in 2007 when there was a poll of THR members' age, there were more aged 35 and over, than under. Nearly half were 40 and over, and nearly a third were 50 and over. If anything, the membership skewed older, not younger. Has it changed? I don't know. I do know that I was over 60 at the time of that poll, and am even older now.
This would be informative. Do you know of any good data sources on this?
USSR
Member
Quote:
So, for the purposes of determining the "most widespread CF rifle ammo", ammunition sales as reported by the manufacturers is likely to be a more accurate answer to the question.
See post #38 above.
Yeah, same thing is happening to me.
Don
So, for the purposes of determining the "most widespread CF rifle ammo", ammunition sales as reported by the manufacturers is likely to be a more accurate answer to the question.
See post #38 above.
Yeah, same thing is happening to me.
Don
gbw
Member
I don't believe this to be so, because I'd guess 5.56/.223 owners purchase far larger quantities of ammo for their rifles than most other rifle owners do. If I'm right the sales numbers would be misleading.
For the purposes of this question, an exaggerated example:
Of 5 people, if 3 each own only 1/3 box of .30-06, and the other 2 own 5,000 rds each of .223, then .30-06 is more widespread among that population than .223.
btw - this is not a poll - just asking folks to speculate based on their own experience. Answers have been interesting so far!
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