In Florida, you must be 21 years old to purchase rifles and shotguns. This rule was established following the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018. However, Republican Senator Randy Fine recently filed a bill that would essentially reverse that decision. The legislation would once again lower the age needed to buy long guns to 18 years old. Ideally, this would pump some additional money into Florida’s economy. Florida already has a large gun culture, with the total economic output and impact from the firearms and ammunition industry sitting at $1,814,799,200 according to the National Sports Shooting Foundation, a trade association for the firearm, ammunition, hunting and recreational shooting sports industry. (Here’s the gun law grade for every state.)
When Floridians under 21 years old are allowed to once again buy long guns, we’re pretty sure we know exactly which rifles they’ll be looking for. After all, there are a subset of gun manufacturers across the United States who are known for crafting reliable, efficient, and quality rifles. Using data from the ATF, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 33 companies making the best-selling American-made rifles. We reviewed manufacturing figures for thousands of federally licensed gunmakers in the United States and ranked them on total rifle production in 2022.
Why It Matters
Firearm sales in the U.S. hit historic highs during and after the pandemic. Both directly and indirectly, the U.S. arms and ammunition industry generated over $90 billion in economic output in 2023 and employed over 384,000 Americans, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. In recent years, surging demand for firearms, particularly MSRs, has been a boon for American gunmakers. As we head to the future, we’re not sure how the gun industry will shift — though with fears about global instability and the onset of another Trump presidency, there could definitely be an increase in gun sales. Will these rifles be at the top of that list?
Here are the 33 companies making the best-selling American-made rifles:
33. Pioneer Arms Corp.
Rifles manufactured domestically in 2022: 10,274 (0.3% of all U.S.-made rifles)
Popular rifle model(s): Sporter AKM-46, Hellpup AKM-47
Pioneer Arms rifle production location(s): Florida
Pioneer Arms 2022 total domestic firearm production: 10,274 (100% rifles)
32. Stag Arms LLC
Rifles manufactured domestically in 2022: 10,779 (0.3% of all U.S.-made rifles)
Popular rifle model(s): STAG 15, STAG 10
Stag Arms rifle production location(s): Washington and Wyoming
Stag Arms 2022 total domestic firearm production: 20,601 (52.3% rifles)
31. LWRC International
Rifles manufactured domestically in 2022: 13,251 (0.4% of all U.S.-made rifles)
Popular rifle model(s): IC-9, IC-A5, SIX8 PSD
LWRC rifle production location(s): Maryland
LWRC 2022 total domestic firearm production: 21,066 (62.9% rifles)
30. RWC Group
Rifles manufactured domestically in 2022: 14,062 (0.4% of all U.S.-made rifles)
Popular rifle model(s): Kali 103, Kalashnikov KR103
RWC rifle production location(s): Florida
RWC 2022 total domestic firearm production: 23,837 (59.0% rifles)
29. Riley Defense Inc.
Rifles manufactured domestically in 2022: 15,408 (0.4% of all U.S.-made rifles)
Popular rifle model(s): RAK-47-P, RAK308-C, RAK74-P
Riley Defense rifle production location(s): North Carolina
Riley Defense 2022 total domestic firearm production: 15,408 (100% rifles)
28. Great Lakes Firearms and Ammunition
Rifles manufactured domestically in 2022: 17,147 (0.5% of all U.S.-made rifles)
Rifles manufactured domestically in 2022: 694,397 (19.4% of all U.S.-made rifles)
Popular rifle model(s): 10/22, Hawkeye, 77-Series, American, AR-556
Ruger rifle production location(s): Arizona, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and North Carolina
Ruger 2022 total domestic firearm production: 1,565,743 (44.3% rifles)
100 Million Americans Are Missing This Crucial Retirement Tool
The thought of burdening your family with a financial disaster is most Americans’ nightmare. However, recent studies show that over 100 million Americans still don’t have proper life insurance in the event they pass away.
Life insurance can bring peace of mind – ensuring your loved ones are safeguarded against unforeseen expenses and debts. With premiums often lower than expected and a variety of plans tailored to different life stages and health conditions, securing a policy is more accessible than ever.
A quick, no-obligation quote can provide valuable insight into what’s available and what might best suit your family’s needs. Life insurance is a simple step you can take today to help secure peace of mind for your loved ones tomorrow.