According to the FBI, active shooter incidents surged by over 50% in 2021 compared to the previous year. Additionally, firearms were involved in over 234,500 violent crimes in 2021, a more than 30% increase from 2020.
Firearm sales in the U.S. totaled nearly 38.9 million in 2021, down slightly from an all-time high of more than 39.7 million in 2020, based on FBI background check data, a proxy for sales. Still, 2021 was the second biggest year for gun sales in the United States – and while gun sales may have slowed, gun violence has not. (Here is a look at the states where people buy the most guns.)
There are nearly 400 million civilian-owned firearms in the U.S., according to Small Arms Survey 2018 estimates. The vast majority are used for legitimate purposes: from target shooting and collecting to hunting and home defense. But every firearm is a lethal weapon that, 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.
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 that rank highly on this list include those that are widely popular with law-abiding gun enthusiasts and sports women and men, 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 used the most to commit crimes in the US.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly listed .32 caliber firearms as .35 caliber firearms. The error has been corrected.
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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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
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
Source: Courtesy of Browning
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
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
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
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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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
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
Source: Brian Blanco / Getty Images News via Getty Images
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
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
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
Source: Courtesy of Stoeger Industries
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
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
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
Source: serikbaib / iStock via Getty Images
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
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
Source: szuppo / Flickr
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
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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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