Most Common Ammo in the World in 2026

By Cassandra McBride

Last Updated: Oct 20, 2026

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Cassandra McBride

With a Criminology and Sociology background, Cassandra blends advocacy and research to write data-driven articles on the outdoors, politics, and firearms. A staunch Second Amendment supporter, she empowers women through firearm training. At Ammo.com, her work sheds light on gun deaths, ownership trends, and overlooked angles in gun debates.

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Cassandra McBride, "Most Common Ammo in the World in 2026"
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Ammo.com provides reliable information on a variety of topics. You can view the sources used in this report.

Methodology

Ammunition and firearm sales data are hard to track because most companies do not release them publicly. Manufacturers and dealers do not publish ammunition revenue. All data in this article are derived from reputable sources, Ammo.com’s internal sales data (September 2025 to August 2026), Google Trends, and manufacturers' footprints (e.g. the number of countries that have ammo manufacturers).

We derived historical summaries and sales estimates from various online sources, articles, and documents. We used our own internal sales data and Google Trends to support previous findings on a cartridge’s current demand and popularity. Google Trends data are five-year global averages of search topics pulled on September 28th, 2026. We compared Google’s trending topics using combined search queries, so all scores are on one scale.

We included available firearm data to illustrate demand for a specific cartridge type. We examined multiple calibers and ammo types while writing this report; the following list includes the ammunition most represented across categories.

Sales revenue alone isn’t an indicator of the most common ammunition due to varying price points. Cartridges were first identified by internal sales data, and included other calibers that did not qualify for the final eight most common in the world (e.g. .380 ACP, .38 Special, .40 S&W, and 5.7x28mm). Each cartridge was then cross-referenced against global five-year averages on Google Trends and global sales indicators (such as manufacturers and firearm availability) to ensure the top eight selections are the most common cartridges worldwide.

Most Common Ammo in the World

The following list contains the top eight most common ammo in the world in 2026.

9mm (9x19mm Parabellum)

Designed in 1901 by Austrian gunsmith Georg Luger for German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken, the 9x19mm Parabellum was adopted by the German Navy in 1904 and the German Army in 1908, and standardized by NATO in 1955. ¹ The 9mm we know today has a shorter case and wider bullet (0.355”) than its predecessor, Luger’s 7.65x21mm (0.309”).

Search interest and sales demand for this cartridge remain higher than any other on our list. Between September 2025 and August 2026, 9mm ranked number 1 in Ammo.com sales revenue. The cartridge’s Google Trends score was 81 out of 100 over the past five years. Several global manufacturers produce 9x19mm Parabellum ammo, including Hornady, Fiocchi, PMC, Norma, and countless more.

Chambered in hundreds of pistols, pistol caliber carbines (PCCs), and submachine guns, it’s safe to say that 9mm cartridges are among the most common in the world.

5.56x45mm NATO and .223 Remington

In 1957, Remington Arms and Fairchild Industries (ArmaLite) responded to a U.S. Army request for a lighter infantry round than the 7.62x51mm. Starting with a .222 Remington case, Stoner and Sierra Bullets’ Frank Snow led the team that designed the 5.56x45mm cartridge, which met the requirement for penetrating a steel helmet at 500 yards. ¹⁵ SAAMI standardized the .223 Remington commercial variant for civilians in 1962. ² Today, 5.56 NATO is the standard for all 32 NATO members plus many partners.

Over the past five years, 5.56 NATO scored 2 out of 100 on Google Trends, while .223 Remington scored 3 out of 100. Combined, 5.56 and .223 ranked number 2 in Ammo.com revenue between September 2025 and August 2026.

From American manufacturers like Federal, Hornady, and Winchester, to European brands such as Fiocchi, GECO, and Norma, to Asian manufacturers including PMC, these cartridges are manufactured worldwide and readily available for purchase in myriad commercial markets.

These cartridges are available chambered in a variety of firearm platforms. AR-15 rifles are the most common among them. A survey suggests that one quarter of American gun owners have one or more AR-15s. ³

To see which firearms Americans buy most, read our study on the most popular guns in the U.S.

12 Gauge

Modern shotshells evolved over the course of several centuries. American pioneers made several advancements to pre-existing shotshells during the 1860s and 1870s, driven by the need for an inexpensive, reliable, and fast-loading cartridge. Among them was Dr. Edward Maynard, a dentist whose work on primer ignition through brass cases led to the development of a self-primed cartridge. ⁴ The 12 Gauge shotshell later became integral to WWI trench warfare, as well as during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Multiple national militaries and law enforcement agencies still employ it to this day, including America’s. ⁵

Between September 2025 and August 2026, 12 Gauge shotshells ranked number 3 in Ammo.com revenue. 12 Gauge shotshells scored 16 out of 100 on Google Trends over the past five years. This ammo is available in virtually every country where civilian shotgun ownership is legal, and is mass-produced by big-name manufacturers such as Federal, Fiocchi, and Winchester.

Manufacturers produce a wide variety of pump-action, semi-auto, break-action, lever-action, bolt-action, and single-shot 12 Gauge shotguns worldwide. Remington has produced more than 13 million Model 870 shotguns alone. ⁶

.22 Long Rifle (LR)

Developed by J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company in 1887, the .22 Long Rifle went on to become one of the most common cartridges in the world. This rimfire cartridge essentially took form when the existing .22 Long case was loaded with a 40 grain bullet. ⁷

For a cartridge that’s been around since the late 19th century, global search interest in .22 LR remains high, scoring 29 out of 100 on Google Trends. This cartridge ranked number 4 in Ammo.com sales between September 2025 and August 2026.

Today, .22 LR ammunition is produced across multiple continents, and available in virtually every country where civilian gun ownership is legal. Well-known manufacturers such as Aguila, CCI, Eley, Federal, Lapua, Remington, Sellier & Bellot, and Winchester all contribute to the estimated 2.5 billion rounds produced every year. ⁸

From rifles to revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, there’s no shortage of firearms to match the .22 LR’s production. Some estimates suggest that Ruger has produced over 10 million 10/22 model .22 LR rifles since its introduction in 1964. ⁹

.300 AAC Blackout

Designed in 2009 by Advanced Armament Corporation, the .300 AAC Blackout (aka .300 BLK) optimizes supersonic and subsonic performance in a standard AR platform. SAAMI officially approved this round in 2011. It has since become a favorite among many shooters. ¹⁰

Between September 2025 and August 2026, .300 BLK ranked number 5 in internal Ammo.com revenue. It scored 10 out of 100 on Google Trends over the past five years. Many big-name manufacturers currently produce this newer cartridge, including Hornady, Federal, Fiocchi, Remington, and Winchester.

Although predominantly a U.S. cartridge, .300 BLK appears to be available wherever AR-15 pattern rifles are as well. The .300 BLK is quickly becoming a common AR cartridge, with factory-chambered firearms offered by SIG, Ruger, and CZ.

7.62x39mm

Developed by the Soviet Union in 1943, the 7.62x39mm quickly became one of the world’s most common cartridges. It was initially intended for the RPD machine gun, and later adopted for the SKS (1945) and AK-47 (1947). ¹¹ It has since seen combat on five continents. Despite decreased civilian availability in the 2020s, manufacturers have been confirmed to operate in 47 countries and include Federal, Hornady, PMC, Sellier & Bellot, and TelaAmmo.

Between September 2025 and August 2026, 7.62x39mm ranked number 6 in Ammo.com revenue. This cartridge scored 1 out of 100 on Google Trends over the past five years. Manufacturers worldwide produce 7.62x39mm ammo. Over 100 million AK-pattern rifles have been produced since the cartridge was designed.

.45 ACP

Designed by John Moses Browning in 1904, the .45 ACP (aka .45 Auto) was a response to the .38 Long Colt's ineffectiveness at stopping Moro Warriors during the Philippine-American War. First chambered in the Colt Model 1905, this cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1911 and went on to serve as the standard military sidearm cartridge until 1985.

Between September 2025 and August 2026, .45 ACP ranked number 7 in Ammo.com revenue. This cartridge scored 10 out of 100 on Google Trends over the past five years. Most major U.S. ammo manufacturers produce .45 ACP, including Federal, Hornady, Speer, and Winchester. International .45 ACP manufacturers include IMI, Magtech, and Sellier & Bellot.

The .45 ACP is commonly chambered in 1911-style pistols, which are produced by over 100 manufacturers. Other popular models that are chambered in .45 ACP include the Glock 21, SIG P220, and S&W M&P 45. ¹³

.308 Winchester

In the 1940s, Frankford Arsenal designed an experimental cartridge for the U.S. military. This cartridge, referred to as “T65,” would be adopted by NATO as the 7.62x51mm in 1954. Winchester introduced the commercial variant, the .308 Winchester, in 1952.

What began as an experimental military cartridge evolved into one of America’s most common hunting rounds. ¹⁴

Recent internal sales data suggest that .308 Winchester ammunition ranked number 8 in Ammo.com revenue and scored 5 out of 100 on Google Trends over the past five years. Virtually every major ammo producer in the world manufactures this cartridge.

This cartridge is chambered in a variety of firearms, including the AR-10 and bolt-action rifles. It’s also the parent case for .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington, and .338 Federal.

For dimensions and specs across other popular rifle rounds, see our rifle cartridge chart.

Sources

• MAS Standardization Agreement: Small Arms Ammunition (9mm Parabellum) gigconceptsinc.com
• Cold War Combatants: 5.45x39 mm vs. 5.56 NATO americanrifleman.org
• 2026 National Firearms Survey: Results from the Second Wave, Including Current Ownership of AR-15 Style Rifles, Other "Assault Weapons," and Magazines that Hold More than 10 Rounds papers.ssrn.com
• Evolution of the American Hunting Shotshell apexmunition.com
• The Trench Boom: 12-Gauge Shotguns in the U.S. Military sofmag.com
• America’s Shotgun: The Story of the Remington 870 alloutdoor.com
• 22 Long Rifle History: From Plinking to Precision savagearms.com
• The Rise & Reign of .22 Long Rifle cci-ammunition.com
• Re-Introducing the Ruger 10/22 - 61 Years Later ruger.com
• .300 AAC Blackout: History, Ballistics, and Ammo Selection gunmagwarehouse.com
• Encyclopædia Britannica - AK-47 britannica.com
• .45 ACP History and Use Over 120 Years turnbullrestoration.com
• The History of the 1911 Pistol athlonoutdoors.com
• Story of the .308 Win thearmorylife.com
• The Rocky History of the 5.56 NATO: How Bad Ammo Almost Ruined the M16 hookandbarrel.com

Data Sources

• Google Trends - Query A trends.google.com
• Google Trends - Query B trends.google.com
• Google Trends - Query C trends.google.com

Written by

Cassandra McBride