Small and Medium Caliber Ammunition Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (62 x 39 mm, 62 x 54 mm, 30 x 165 mm, 23 x 115 mm, 23 x 152 mm, 7 x 108 mm, 5 x 114 mm, Others), By Application (Commercial, Military & Homeland Security), By Bullet Type (Lead, Copper, Brass, Others) and By Region (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2026-2034

Small and Medium Caliber Ammunition Market Size

The global small and medium caliber ammunition market size was valued at USD 9.88 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 10.29 billion in 2026 to USD 14.18 billion by 2034, registering a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period from 2026 to 2034. Asia Pacific dominated the small and medium caliber ammunition market with a market share of 34.5% in 2025.

Ammunition is the projectiles and propellant charges used to ignite the propellant in handguns, rifles, and artillery. They include several expendable weapons, such as bullets and warheads fired or detonated from these weapons, as well as expendable weapons, such as missiles, bombs, grenades, and land mines. Ammunition is both a disposable weapon and one of the major components of other weapons that affect a target. Ammunition comes in various shapes and forms and is frequently created to only function in particular weapon systems. A gun's caliber refers to its barrel's internal diameter (bore). Small caliber ammunition generally refers to projectiles with a diameter of 20 mm or less, whereas medium caliber refers to projectiles with a diameter of 20 mm to 40 mm.

Highlights

• 62 x 39 mm caliber ammunition dominates the product segment
• Asia-Pacific is the highest shareholder in the global market

Product Insight

The 7.62 x 39 mm caliber ammunition segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 4.5% over the forecast period. 7.62 × 39mm caliber ammunition, also known as 7.62 Soviet, is commonly used in the AK-47 line of rifles owing to their high knockdown power, moderate recoil, and weight of approximately 8 grams. This type of ammunition can also be used in RPD and RPK light machine guns. These are very affordable due to their high availability and are used by the Soviet Union on a large scale. Several 7.62 × 39 mm caliber ammunition variants are available in the market. Some of these variants include 57-N-231, 7N23, and 57-N-231P. The 57-N-231 variant has a steel-core and ballistic coefficient (G1 BC) of approximately 0.304 and (G7 BC) of approximately.

In addition, the 7.62 × 39 mm caliber ammunition is widely used in the military and in civilian purposes such as hunting medium-sized animals such as deer. The 7.62 x 39 mm caliber ammunition segment led the market owing to its compatibility with the AK series rifles, widespread availability, and affordability. The 7.62 x 39 mm caliber ammunition is also becoming increasingly popular in hunting sports to kill medium-sized animals.

7.62 × 54 mm is a rimmed rifle cartridge originally designed for the bolt-action Mosin–Nagant rifle used by the Russian Czarist Empire in 1891. It remains one of the few standard-issue rimmed cartridges in active military use. The Russian military widely uses the 7.62 × 54 mm ammunition in the Dragunov, SV-98, and other sniper rifles. Furthermore, it finds application in general-purpose machine guns, such as the PKM and Pecheneg machine guns. 57-N-323S, 7N13, 7T2, 7BZ3, and 7N1 are some of the variants of the 7.62 × 54 mm ammunition. The 57-N-323S is a traditional steel core ammunition variant with a ballistic coefficient (G1 BC) of approximately 0.374 and (G7 BC) of approximately 0.187. The 7N13 variant is specially designed to pierce the body, while the 7BZ3 variant targets lightly armored targets.

The 30 mm caliber ammunition is used in various shipboard close-in weapons systems. 30mm caliber ammunition is autocannon ammunition, which includes NATO standard 30 × 113 mm B and 30 × 173; Czechoslovakian 30 × 210 mm Cz; Yugoslavian 30 × 192 mm; and Soviet 30 × 165 mm and 30 × 210 mm. 30 mm caliber cartridges are generally used against fortified bunkers or armed vehicles as well as aircraft. Furthermore, the 30 mm caliber ammunition is used in various shipboard close-in weapons systems, including Dutch Goalkeeper CIWS and the Russian AK-630. The Russian Armed Forces widely use the 30 × 165 mm variant in various application settings such as anti-aircraft guns, light naval guns, and short recoil autocannon. The 2K22 Tunguska is one of the most advanced self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon systems that use 30 × 165 mm ammunition.

The Russian Air Force uses 23 x 115 mm ammunition in various rotary canon applications. 23 x 115 mm ammunition rounds are widely used by the Russian Armed Forces in GSh-23L and GSh-6-23 rotary cannons. It is also used in many CIS countries. The Soviet Air Force still uses the 23 x 115 mm ammunition in aircraft canons mounted on various aircraft, including the SU-24, MiG-31, and Ilyushin Il-76 transporters, despite being replaced by the 30 x 165 mm caliber ammunition.

Request Customizationto receive a tailored report.

Speak to an Analystto discuss market opportunities.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global small and medium caliber ammunition market is bifurcated into Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market.

Asia-Pacific is the most significant global small and medium caliber ammunition market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.21% during the forecast period. Rising geopolitical disputes and the increasing threat of terrorist attacks are the primary reasons for the growth of defense industries in the region. Countries like India and China are spending on modernizing their armed forces to battle against violence. These countries procure ammunition for the armed forces and law enforcement agencies to minimize the rising crime rate. These factors are expected to expedite the market demand over the forecast period. The increase in the procurement of bullets is also fueled due to rise in hunting and sports activities in the region. Bullets are the largest procured product segment in Asia-Pacific compared to the other ammunition products, including mortars and rockets.

In addition, strict government regulations related to personal handguns and assault weapons and license policies are curbing the market's growth. Rising environmental concerns regarding the lead bullets used for hunting and sporting activities are other factors that may restrict the growth of the ammunition market over the forecast period.

Unlock Regional Insightsto access country-level data, & regional trends.

Central and South America

Central and South America imports most of its arms and ammunition for military and civilian use from the U.S. In recent times. The region has emerged as the new producer of arms and ammunition. Most gun-related crimes are reported in countries like Brazil. The main cause of the rise in these gun-related crimes is due to relaxed law regulations and other societal norms. Some countries in the region have also banned weapons used for civilian, shooting, and hunting purposes, such as semi-automatic and automatic weapons. The ban is expected to hinder the market growth for bullets in the region. However, laws, permission requirements, and illegal trafficking in the region are projected to strengthen the market over the forecast period.

Furthermore, Brazil has a monopoly on the Central and South American market for arms and ammunition, but exports have dropped due to the country's severe economic crisis. This may restrict the market growth over the forecast period. However, the increased demand for hunting, sport, and self-defense will drive the ammunition market in the coming years.

In the Middle East and Africa, the surging demand majorly drives the increase in arms transfer. The Middle East doubled imports from 2007 to 2011, and Saudi Arabia is the world's largest arms importer. Also, a rise of 88% in arms import was witnessed in the region. In 2016, the region accounted for 29% of global imports. The economic growth of the countries and heavy investments in the defense industries due to the rise in cross-border threats are factors that propel the market's growth in the Middle East and Africa. The governments are taking initiatives to strengthen the armed forces to curb the ongoing illegal activities. This would increase the procurement of ammunition over the period and boost the growth of the ammunition market.

In addition, the rise in terrorist activities across the region and the government's initiatives to modernize military weapons are two major factors expected to positively affect the market's growth. The high amount of economic and military aid provided by the U.S. in Israel has led to the development of defense industries and the growth of other relative industries across the country over the forecast period.

List of Key and Emerging Players in Small and Medium Caliber Ammunition Market