Report Highlights
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Hundreds of cartridges are commercially available. A handful dominate civilian sales worldwide.
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9mm cartridges account for the largest share of retail ammunition revenue, and scored 81 out of 100 on Google Trends over the past five years as of October 2026.
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An estimated 2.5 billion .22 LR rounds are produced annually.
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The eight most common cartridges worldwide accounted for large shares of retail revenue and search interest.
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
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