The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the “right to bear arms”, a right that many Americans take very seriously, leading them to own one or more handguns. The vast selection and variety of handguns on the market today is impressive, including anything from revolvers and semi-automatic handguns to break-action and bolt-action pistols. (These are the most powerful handguns.)
In addition, state-level legislation has greatly expanded gun rights in much of the country. In 29 states, it is now or will soon be legal to carry a concealed firearm in public places without a permit. In most of these states, permitless concealed carry was signed into law in 2019 or later — and these changes appear to have had a meaningful impact on the firearm industry. (These are the standard issue sidearms in the U.S. military.)
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), nearly 21.4 million handguns were manufactured in the U.S. between 2020 and 2022, about 17% more than were made throughout the decade of the 1990s. Another 6.6 million handguns were imported to the U.S. between 2019 and 2020, compared to less than 6.4 million in the 1990s.
Using a report from Gun Genius, which analyzed sales data from GunBroker.com, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 most popular handguns in America. Handguns (a category that includes both pistols and revolvers) are ranked on sales volume in the 2023 calendar year, though exact sales figures were not provided. Supplemental data on domestic manufacturing locations and production volume in 2021 are from the ATF.
It is important to note that this list was compiled using online gun sales only. Unlike most items purchased online, firearms are generally not shipped directly to your door. Typically, the process requires buyers to have their gun shipped to a Federally Licensed Firearm Dealer which will run a background check before transferring the gun to the customer.
Why We’re Covering This
Looking at the top-selling handguns in the U.S. can provide insight into both national and regional cultures and the market. Popular handguns are favored for specific features, such as the company, price, reliability, and ease of use.
These are America’s best-selling handguns.
10. Beretta Model 90
- Approx. base retail price: $405
- Caliber options: 9mm, .22 LR
- Beretta U.S. handgun production in 2021: 129,965 (1.6% of all U.S. handgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Gallatin, TN
9. Ruger Blackhawk
- Approx. base retail price: $700
- Caliber options: .45, .41 Rem Mag, .357 mag, 9mm, .44 mag
- Ruger U.S. handgun production in 2021: 1,335,204 (16.9% of all U.S. handgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Prescott, AZ; Southport, CT; Mayodan, NC; and Newport, NH
8. Smith & Wesson M&P9
- Approx. base retail price: $340
- Caliber options: 9mm
- Smith & Wesson U.S. handgun production in 2021: 1,882,016 (23.8% of all U.S. handgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Columbia, MO and Springfield, MA
7. Ruger Mark IV
- Approx. base retail price: $400
- Caliber options: .22 LR
- Ruger U.S. handgun production in 2021: 1,335,204 (16.9% of all U.S. handgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Prescott, AZ; Southport, CT; Mayodan, NC; and Newport, NH
6. Colt Python
- Approx. base retail price: $1,230
- Caliber options: .38 Spl, .357 Mag
- Colt U.S. handgun production in 2021: 90,262 (1.1% of all U.S. handgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: West Hartford, CT
5. CZ-USA CZ 75
- Approx. base retail price: $590
- Caliber options: 9mm
- CZ-USA U.S. handgun production in 2021: 22,069 (0.3% of all U.S. handgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Kansas City, KS and Norwich, NY
4. Glock G43
![](https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Glock-43.png "User:Miller_KH&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"Miller")
- Approx. base retail price: $450
- Caliber options: 9mm
- Glock U.S. handgun production in 2021: 581,944 (7.4% of all U.S. handgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Smyrna, GA
3. Glock G19
- Approx. base retail price: $500
- Caliber options: 9mm
- Glock U.S. handgun production in 2021: 581,944 (7.4% of all U.S. handgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Smyrna, GA
2. Sig Sauer P320
![](https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SIG-Sauer-P320.jpeg "User:TexasWarhawk&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"TexasWarhawk","imgSrc":"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:SigP320FullSize.jpg"}"")
- Approx. base retail price: $470
- Caliber options: 9mm
- Sig Sauer U.S. handgun production in 2021: 1,214,013 (15.3% of all U.S. handgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Exeter, NH and Newington, NH
1. Sig Sauer P365
- Approx. base retail price: $480
- Caliber options: 9mm
- Sig Sauer U.S. handgun production in 2021: 1,214,013 (15.3% of all U.S. handgun production)
- U.S. manufacturing location(s) in 2021: Exeter, NH and Newington, NH
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