Top Five Rifle Cartridges by Sales Data

[260 Rem]

Interesting article in the March edition of RIFLE SHOOTER authored by Layne Simpson does some comparisons of sales data for RCBS Dies (2012) and Federal ammunition sales. "The top five rifle cartridges based on RCBS die sales are identical to the top five factory-loaded rounds from Federal. Only the order is slightly different".

223 / 308 / 30-06 / 243 / 270

EDIT: First format ran together....see 1899b's following quote for the breakdown

[1899b]

Originally Posted by 260 Rem

Interesting article in the March edition of RIFLE SHOOTER authored by Layne Simpson does some comparisons of sales data for RCBS Dies (2012) and Federal ammunition sales. "The top five rifle cartridges based on RCBS die sales are identical to the top five factory-loaded rounds from Federal. Only the order is slightly different".

RCBS DIE SALES (2012) FEDERAL FACTORY AMMO SALES (2011)
223 223
308 243
30-06 30-06
243 308
270 270

Definitely not surprising....

[Grizzly Adams]

I`d have expected the 7 mm Rem to make the list .

Grizz

[north american hunter]

Doesn't surprise me, I though 300 win mag would make the list too.

[Okotokian]

I think that if you looked at Canadian stats the .223 would probably drop out of the top 5. Perhaps the .243 as well, replaced by the 7mm RM and .300WM (no idea which of those would place higher than the other).

[kodiakken]

Another I would have thought that would be on the list 30-30!!

Ken.

[NoTarget]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

I think that if you looked at Canadian stats the .223 would probably drop out of the top 5. Perhaps the .243 as well, replaced by the 7mm RM and .300WM (no idea which of those would place higher than the other).

The .223 would still be #1 in Canadian sales. They sell it in cases of 500 and 1000 and vendors can't keep it in stock.

[Dewey Cox]

Originally Posted by kodiakken

Another I would have thought that would be on the list 30-30!!

Ken.

Everyone and their dog has a 30-30, but when is the last time you saw one at the range? I think the average 30-30 goes through a box of ammo every 5 years.

[260 Rem]

Originally Posted by kodiakken

Another I would have thought that would be on the list 30-30!!

Ken.

The 30-30 does appear in the top ten on both lists. The author also alludes to the fact that the list is also affected each time "the new best thing" is released.

[bat119]

It would be interesting to see a graph over the past thirty years the .204 must have been all the rage in 2005

RCBS Top 25 Dies For 2005

1. .204 Ruger
2. .30-06 Springfield
3. .223 Rem.
4. .308 Win.
5. .243 Win.
6. .22-250 Rem.
7. .45 ACP
8. .270 Win.
9. .300 Win. Mag.
10. .44 Mag./Special
11. .300 WSM
12. .357 Mag./.38 Special
13. 7mm Rem. Mag.
14. .45 Colt
15. .45-70 Government
16. .25-06
17. 9mm Luger
18. .500 S & W Mag.
19. .270 WSM
20. .30-30 WCF

[Badgoodguy]

Hmmmmmm 303 ??

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Badgoodguy

Hmmmmmm 303 ??

This is because it is based on die sales, not cartridge sales!
I think there may very well be a difference if cartridge sales was considered, and that is the States anyway, not Canuckland!!
Cat

[Badgoodguy]

Ooops my Bad

[coreya3212]

I would have figured .22LR on ammunition sales would top out the list. I guess the reloading part of the poll takes rim fire out of the running.

[260 Rem]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

This is because it is based on die sales, not cartridge sales!
I think there may very well be a difference if cartridge sales was considered, and that is the States anyway, not Canuckland!!
Cat

This comparison included the sale of Federal loaded factory ammo

[CNP]

There is a good reason why 7mm RM, 300WM and all the other mags are not on the list of "top five factory-loaded rounds from Federal".

They are expensive. I would expect that a Canadian study would resemble the OP.

Guys go to the range and pop off hundreds of .223 rounds in a visit. 30.06 and .308 common range guns as well as being very affordable ammo. 243 and 270 just because they are sold in Walmart

As for .303......the great wars are over and 30-30.......the West was won years ago. While there are plenty of these guns in closets.......they never see any action.

[oldgutpile]

All sales will ultimately be swayed by the geography and needs of the buyers. So many areas of the U.S., all they have for hunting opportunities are Whitetails. Not much needed over and above, in fact many of them have things like elk and moose as a wish-list hunt. We live in a land of greater hunting opportunites, where we just assume that every few years we WILL be hunting bigger critters. Sometimes we go bigger just because there is "bigger" things hunting in the hills with us!
Survey a Pennsylvania WT hunter and see what his top five would be, but then take the survey to Alaska and see what they think!

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by 260 Rem

This comparison included the sale of Federal loaded factory ammo

So it does! I wonder if the results would change if the other ammo companies were included?
Cat

[Pathfinder76]

You guys seriously think the 303 British would be in the running for top ten?

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by chuck

You guys seriously think the 303 British would be in the running for top ten?

I would think it would make hardly any kind of dent at all!!
it has been noted of course that even though there are lots of 94's and Enfields around, people don't tend to shoot them as much as other rifles.
I do see brass from both quite often at the range, but not nearly so much as 30'06, 308, the magnums, and the .223 - oh, and 7.62X39!!
Cat

[Bushrat]

I would say the 7.62x39 would be one of the top ammo sellers judging by the way I see cases of the junk going out the doors of the gunshops and the amount people shooting these junky SKS's at the range along with the piles of cases strewn all over the place. Very few dies sold for that cartridge.

[sailor]

Originally Posted by Bushrat

I would say the 7.62x39 would be one of the top ammo sellers judging by the way I see cases of the junk going out the doors of the gunshops and the amount people shooting these junky SKS's at the range along with the piles of cases strewn all over the place. Very few dies sold for that cartridge.

Maybe SKS is cheap carbine to by but it is not a junk

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by NoTarget

The .223 would still be #1 in Canadian sales. They sell it in cases of 500 and 1000 and vendors can't keep it in stock.

That makes sense, though I think there are a lot fewer AR-type guns here than in the US. I see a whole lot of SKS's here. I bet their ammo might be high in sales in Canada. Of course Federal doesn't produce it so it's not going to make that survey.

[MK2750]

I thought the 7-08 would at least make the top 20, especially in the states where deer are the one and only for most. Every manufacturer seems to chamber in it and IMO it is the perfect round for White-tails. The deer in most states are also considerably smaller than we are use to, if that was even a factor.

On this forum the 7-08 is highly recommended on nearly every thread regarding cartridge. I read that the 7mm Express was a flop due to it's use of metric measure. Perhaps the same applies to the 7-08??

[fishinmatt]

You still see 303 ad 30-30 at almost every Candian tire and wallmart so I would guess they must sell. It wouldn't take long for a chain like Canadian Tire that only stocks 5 or 10 different cartridges to realize they weren't selling accross the country and replace them with something that does if that were the case.
Matt

[260 Rem]

The 7 - 08 came in #17 on the RCBS sales for the latest data (2012).

[covey ridge]

I am really surprised that the .243 is #2 on the ammo list and that it even made the top 5 on the die list. I know it is capable, but I had no idea it was so popular.

[Big Daddy Badger]

Originally Posted by kodiakken

Another I would have thought that would be on the list 30-30!!

Ken.

30-30 is pretty cheap to buy and not something most guys shoot high volume.
Since it was based upon die sales....

[220swifty]

Originally Posted by sailor

Maybe SKS is cheap carbine to by but it is not a junk

They are good for spraying lead in the general direction of the target.
As an added bonus, if you forgot the handle for your bottle jack, you can use your SKS in its place. As an added bonus, there is a 50/50 chance it will be more accurate when your done!

I'd imagine the 7.62 didn't make the list, because, as the range floor indicates, most users of this round prefer the cheap com bloc surplus, not new manufactured ammo.

[6mm rem]

How does the 30-06 make #2 ? With all the good caliber a out there now.