The United States is the world’s largest consumer market for firearms, and even though people’s reasoning for purchasing a gun has markedly changed in the past few decades, there is no denying that firearm consumption is at an all-time high. Between 2020 and 2022, over 38.2 firearms were manufactured in the U.S., according to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). This is an increase of more than half the amount made between 2017 and 2019.
In the past, many people bought firearms for a multitude of reasons but as of late, the top priority was self-defense and protection. As attitudes among gun owners have shifted, sales have surged, particularly for firearms commonly used for personal protection. Increased production volume was driven largely by pistols, a category made up mostly of semi-automatic handguns. In the last three years, American gunmakers produced an average of 6.1 million pistols annually, up from an average of 3.5 million in the preceding three-year period.
24/7 Wall St. identified the best-selling guns in the US in 2023 by using a report from Gun Genius, which analyzed sales data from the online firearm marketplace GunBroker.com. Guns are ranked on sales volume in the 2023 calendar year, though exact sales figures were not provided. Handguns account for 15 of the 25 firearms ranked on this list, including 12 semi-automatic pistols and three revolvers. Also included here are eight rifles — mostly bolt- and lever-action — and two pump-action shotguns. (Here is a look at the 25 most powerful handguns.)
Fifteen different companies under 17 brands make these firearms, including some of the biggest names in the industry. Henry Repeating Arms, Glock, RemArms, and Sig Sauer each have multiple firearm models on this list. But the largest share is made by Ruger, a company that manufactured over 2 million firearms in the U.S. in 2021, or 15.1% of total domestic production, according to the ATF. (Here is a look at the company making the most guns in every state.)
The majority of gunmakers listed have at least one major U.S. production plant, including Glock, which is located in Smyrna, Georgia (its global headquarters in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria), and Beretta, located in Accokeek, Maryland (company headquarters are in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy). Combined, these companies manufactured over 737,000 firearms in the U.S. in 2021.
It should be noted that this list was compiled using online gun sales only. Unlike most items purchased online, firearms are generally not shipped directly to your door. The process requires buyers to have their gun shipped to a Federally Licensed Firearm Dealer – usually a local gun store – which will run a background check before transferring the gun to the customer. Additionally, while the estimated base price of many of these firearms can be as low as a few hundred dollars, higher-end variations can sell for many times that amount.
Here are the best-selling guns in the U.S.
25. Glock G17
Source: timothytsuihin / Flickr
- Approx. base retail price: $450
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: 9mm
- Parent company: Glock Inc.
- Glock domestic firearm production in 2021: 581,944 (4.2% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Smyrna, GA
24. Remington Model 870
Source: Burnyburnout / CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED via Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $410
- Firearm type: Pump-action shotgun
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga, .410
- Parent company: RemArms
- Remington domestic firearm production in 2021: 86,594 (0.6% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Ilion, NY
23. Armscor/RIA Rock
Source: 2023 Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Approx. base retail price: $380
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: .40, .45, 9mm, 10mm
- Parent company: Armscor
- Armscor domestic firearm production in 2021: 73 (0.0% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Pahrump, NV
22. Rossi R92
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $620
- Firearm type: Lever-action rifle
- Available chamberings include: .30-30, .454 Casull,.38, .357 Mag,.44 Mag, .45, .45-70
- Parent company: Rossi
- Rossi domestic firearm production in 2021: 00 (0.0% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: None
21. Magnum Research Desert Eagle
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $1,660
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .50 AE, .429,
- Parent company: Magnum Research Inc.
- Magnum Research domestic firearm production in 2021: 14,586 (0.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Pillager, MN
20. Heritage Rough Rider
Source: capcase / Flickr
- Approx. base retail price: $110
- Firearm type: Revolver
- Available chamberings include: .22 LR, .22 Mag, .22 WMR
- Parent company: Heritage Manufacturing
- Heritage domestic firearm production in 2021: 505,601 (3.7% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Bainbridge, GA
19. Browning X-Bolt
Source: Drassow / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $740
- Firearm type: Bolt-action rifle
- Available chamberings include: .223, .243, .270, .270 WSM, .30-06, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor
- Parent company: Herstal Group
- Browning domestic firearm production in 2021: 44,494 (0.3% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Morgan, UT (Browning)
18. Springfield Hellcat
Source: Somers-all-the-time / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $500
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: 9mm
- Parent company: Springfield Armory
- Springfield domestic firearm production in 2021: 590,750 (4.3% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Geneseo, IL
17. Beretta Model 90
Source: storem / Flickr
- Approx. base retail price: $400
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: .22 LR, .22 WMR, 9mm
- Parent company: Beretta Holding
- Beretta domestic firearm production in 2021: 155,352 (1.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Gallatin, TN
16. Ruger Blackhawk
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $640
- Firearm type: Revolver
- Available chamberings include: .357 Mag, .41 Rem Mag, .45, .30, .44 Special, 9mm, 10mm, .40
- Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Ruger domestic firearm production in 2021: 2,078,013 (15.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH
15. Remington Model 700
Source: Waltherppx / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $421
- Firearm type: Bolt-action rifle
- Available chamberings include: .223, .243, .270, .270 WSM, .30-06, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor
- Parent company: RemArms
- Remington domestic firearm production in 2021: 86,594 (0.6% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Ilion, NY
14. Smith & Wesson M&P9
Source: jfmdesign / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Approx. base retail price: $330
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: 9mm
- Parent company: Smith & Wesson
- Smith & Wesson domestic firearm production in 2021: 2,317,792 (16.8% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Columbia, MO and Springfield, MA
13. Ruger Mark IV
Source: simonov / Flickr
- Approx. base retail price: $400
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: .22 LR
- Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Ruger domestic firearm production in 2021: 2,078,013 (15.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH
12. Colt Python
Source: szuppo / Flickr
- Approx. base retail price: $1,230
- Firearm type: Revolver
- Available chamberings include: .38, .357 Mag
- Parent company: Colt CZ Group
- Colt domestic firearm production in 2021: 151,771 (1.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: West Hartford, CT
11. Marlin Model 1895
Source: Wirestock/Getty Images
- Approx. base retail price: $1,280
- Firearm type: Lever-action rifle
- Available chamberings include: .45-70
- Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Ruger domestic firearm production in 2021: 2,078,013 (15.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH
10. Ruger American
Source: Sturm, Ruger & Co. Firearms / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $480
- Firearm type: Bolt-action rifle
- Available chamberings include: .30-06, .243, .270, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor
- Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Ruger domestic firearm production in 2021: 2,078,013 (15.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH
9. Henry Side Gate
Source: 2017 Getty Images / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
- Approx. base retail price: $870
- Firearm type: Lever-action rifle
- Available chamberings include: .30-30, .357 Mag,.44 Mag, .45, .45-70
- Parent company: Henry Repeating Arms
- Henry domestic firearm production in 2021: 320,603 (2.3% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Rice Lake, WI and Bayonne, NJ
8. CZ-USA CZ 75
Source: Twiek / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $500
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: 9mm
- Parent company: Colt CZ Group
- CZ-USA domestic firearm production in 2021: 155,616 (1.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Kansas City, KS and Norwich, NY
7. Glock G43
Source: Miller KH / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $420
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: 9mm
- Parent company: Glock Inc.
- Glock domestic firearm production in 2021: 581,944 (4.2% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Smyrna, GA
6. Glock G19
Source: Cory Barnes / Flickr
- Approx. base retail price: $500
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: 9mm
- Parent company: Glock Inc.
- Glock domestic firearm production in 2021: 581,944 (4.2% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Smyrna, GA
5. Henry Big Boy
Source: Picanox / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $850
- Firearm type: Lever-action rifle
- Available chamberings include: .327 Mag, .41 Mag, .38, .357 Mag,.44 Mag, .45
- Parent company: Henry Repeating Arms
- Henry domestic firearm production in 2021: 320,603 (2.3% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Rice Lake, WI and Bayonne, NJ
4. Ruger 10/22
Source: capcase / Flickr
- Approx. base retail price: $270
- Firearm type: Semi-automatic rifle
- Available chamberings include: .22 LR
- Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Ruger domestic firearm production in 2021: 2,078,013 (15.1% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH
3. Mossberg Model 590
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $410
- Firearm type: Pump-action shotgun
- Available chamberings include: 12 ga, 20 ga, .410
- Parent company: O. F. Mossberg & Sons, Maverick Arms
- Mossberg and Maverick domestic firearm production in 2021: 492,444 (3.6% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: North Haven, CT and Eagle Pass, TX
2. Sig Sauer P320
Source: Digitallymade / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $470
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: 9mm, .45, 10mm
- Parent company: Sig Sauer
- Sig Sauer domestic firearm production in 2021: 1,294,185 (9.4% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Newington, NH and Exeter, NH
1. Sig Sauer P365
Source: Digitallymade / Wikimedia Commons
- Approx. base retail price: $480
- Firearm type: Pistol
- Available chamberings include: 9mm
- Parent company: Sig Sauer
- Sig Sauer domestic firearm production in 2021: 1,294,185 (9.4% of all U.S.-made firearms)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Newington, NH and Exeter, NH
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