While homicides are the most extreme examples of gun violence, among all gun-related crimes, they are only the tip of the iceberg. According to the FBI, there were over 100,000 cases of aggravated assault and 43,000 robberies carried out with a firearm nationwide in 2020. (Here is a look at America’s most dangerous states).
Every firearm is a lethal weapon and in the wrong hands can be used to unlawfully kill or coerce. However, certain types of guns are far more likely to be used by criminals than others.
Using gun tracing data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 24/7 Wall St. identified the firearm calibers most commonly used for crime in 2020. Our list includes rifle, handgun, and shotgun calibers and gauges, which are standardized measurements for bullet and ammunition sizes.
Guns that are traced by the ATF are typically those found at crime scenes and 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 nearly 390,000 firearms nationwide 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 historically associated with criminality.
Other firearm types that rank highly on this list include those that are widely popular with law-abiding gun enthusiasts and sports men and women, such as 12 gauge shotguns, .223 rifles, and 9mm handguns. (Here is a look at the 50 most popular guns in the world).
Click here to see the firearm calibers most commonly used for crime.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly listed .32 caliber firearms as .35 caliber firearms. The error has been corrected.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
28. .30 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 483
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Target shooting, small and medium game hunting
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
27. 16 gauge
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 516
> Most common gun type: Shotgun
> Common legal usages: Home defense, hunting, target shooting
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
26. .50 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 575
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Hunting, target shooting
25. .243 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 617
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Varmint hunting, deer hunting
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24. .270 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 780
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Hunting, target shooting
23. .300 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 1,016
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, law enforcement, big game hunting
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22. .45 caliber/.410 Bore
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 1,278
> Most common gun type: Handgun/shotgun
> Common legal usages: Self defense
21. .30-30 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 1,300
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Hunting
Source: Brian Blanco / Getty Images News via Getty Images
20. .308 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 1,545
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, law enforcement, big game hunting
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19. .410 bore
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 1,549
> Most common gun type: Shotgun
> Common legal usages: Hunting, target shooting, home defense
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
18. .30-06 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 1,587
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, big game hunting
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17. 5.7mm
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 1,685
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Military, law enforcement, target shooting
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
16. 10mm
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 1,749
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Hunting, self defense
15. .44 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 1,890
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Law enforcement, hunting
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14. 20 gauge
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 3,347
> Most common gun type: Shotgun
> Common legal usages: Home defense, hunting, target shooting
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
13. .32 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 4,524
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Self defense, target shooting
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12. .223 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 4,792
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, hunting
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
11. .25 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 5,421
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Self defense, target shooting
Source: serikbaib / iStock via Getty Images
10. 7.62mm
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 8,026
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, law enforcement, big game hunting
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9. .357 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 8,425
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Hunting, self defense, target shooting
8. 5.56mm
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 9,032
> Most common gun type: Rifle
> Common legal usages: Military, hunting
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7. .38 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 16,714
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Target shooting, self defense
6. 12 gauge
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 18,678
> Most common gun type: Shotgun
> Common legal usages: Law enforcement, home defense, hunting, target shooting
Source: szuppo / Flickr
5. .45 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 27,109
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Law enforcement
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4. .380 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 29,903
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Self defense
3. .22 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 35,026
> Most common gun type: Rifle, handgun
> Common legal usages: Target shooting, small game hunting
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2. .40 caliber
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 45,814
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Law enforcement, self defense
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1. 9mm
> Total guns traced by the ATF in 2020: 145,815
> Most common gun type: Handgun
> Common legal usages: Military, law enforcement, self defense, target shooting
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