What common calibres are in the UK?

[Mortblanc]

Much of the "common caliber" thing has to do with the place where you live.

As a rural dweller in the US I am faced with the presence of more firearms than you folks.

I am assured that each and every house on my lane contains a shotgun. 12 bore will dominate but there are many 20 bores around and many of the families have a .410 for dispatching small critters and because the wife/girls can not stand recoil.

Almost every house will contain a .22lr, "just because", or "just in case". They are just there because they are there and require no reason for their existence.

80-90% of the homes will possess a center fire rifle. A "deer gun" is the common reference. A very large portion of them will be 30-30 lever action rifles.

(A couple of years back I did an unscientific test which involved me mentioning a hunting trip and waiting for the inevitable response of "Oh I have a deer rifle, its a 30-30". It seems that almost everyone I know owns a 30-30 even if they possess another deer rifle of some kind.)

Dedicated hunters will have one of the more powerful. cartridges of some designation. The ever present .308/30-06, .243, .270, 7mm magnum, .300 magnum or whatever their favorite happens to be.

I have noted lately that many of the older generation, folks my age, as well as the younger set have become converts to what is termed the "modern sporting rifle", a platform that looks military but is offered in semi-auto civilian trim. That includes the civilian AK, AR, G3, FN and other types.

I am aware of at least a half dozen folks on my road that own such rifles and there are probably others that are more closed mouthed and secretive.

I have not touched on the presence of pistols at all. Those devices will be found in every caliber imaginable, but 9mm will dominate, closely followed by .38 special caliber and all the others trailing off behind. Cost is the dominate factor here. Semi-auto pistols are cheaper to make and sell than revolvers, so 9mm has gained a lead over the tried and true .38spl which is mostly a revolver cartridge. .40S&W caliber is also very popular here. It is a favorite of the law enforcement and government agencies. It is an excellent cartridge, and in my opinion much better than the 9mm.

Pistol caliber carbines are popular in some circles, mostly the circles that want a rifle and pistol for the same caliber. My opinion is that both devices have different uses and they do not overlap well. The purpose of a pistol is close self defense. The purpose of a rifle is to eliminate a threat at long range. If your rifle is restricted to 150 yards it can not fulfill its function. If your pistol is marginal for close defense (9mm/.38spl) it is not a good choice for work at longer ranges.

I do not find many people on my little road that use these dual purpose devices. I do not see them in the hunting field or at the range. They are a cute concept but they do not work.

And keep in mind that most of the worlds military systems dropped the use of the sub-machine gun in 9mm chambering at the end of WW2 and replaced them with select fire carbines of reduced power rifle strength. The pistol caliber shoulder weapon is now relegated to the duty of clearing elevators and room to room security activities by specialized units.

This is even though the Brits developed the STEN gun as a principle weapon, the USSR issued 30,000,000 sub machine guns and the US built 8,000,000 M1 carbines (it is a pistol strength cartridge) during the war.

The German development of a mid-power rifle cartridge in a select fire weapon rendered the pistol caliber carbine obsolete more then 70 years ago.

BTW, that 30-30 lever action rifle cartridge is almost the exact ballistic equal to the 7.62x39 AK cartridge. Fancy that!

And it is one of the types that you are allowed in the UK with no great fanfare, it shoots fast and is good for any game found in the UK.

Embrace the cowboy!