The United States is in an era of historic political polarization, and few issues have proved more divisive than gun control. But despite the discord, or perhaps because of it, America’s gun industry is booming. According to the industry advocacy group National Shooting Sports Foundation, the number of new American gun owners climbed by 9.6 million in the last two years alone.
Firearms, ammunition, and indirect industries employed 394,000 Americans in 2022, and had an economic impact of over $80.7 billion, according to the NSSF. Part of the gun industry are the over 3,000 federally licensed gun makers operating in the United States, according to 2021 data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. But while gun buyers have plenty of options to choose from, the U.S. firearms manufacturing market is dominated by only a handful of companies.
Using data from the ATF, 24/7 Wall St. identified the companies making the most firearms in the United States. Companies are ranked on domestic firearm production in 2021. Data on the location of each company’s production facilities and manufacturing output by firearm type in 2021 are also from the ATF.
Each of the 24 companies on this list produced over 100,000 firearms in 2021. It is important to note that some of these companies are headquartered overseas, and that only the firearms they manufactured in U.S. plants were considered in this ranking. Large foreign gun makers often have substantial U.S. manufacturing facilities, not only to better supply recreational shooters, but also to compete for government arms contracts. (Here is a look at 34 American made firearms used every day by the U.S. military.)
While no company has a monopoly on the American gun market, some appear to be coming close. Combined, the top five gun makers on this list accounted for 50% of all domestic firearm production in 2021. These companies include Ruger, Sig Sauer, and Smith & Wesson, which are all American based, and also rank among the largest gunmakers in the world.
Click here to see America’s largest gun makers.
24. Strassells Machine Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 106,807 (0.8% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 57.9% handguns; 42.1% rifles
> Popular firearm model(s): Model 995 carbine, Model 4095 carbine, Model C9 pistol
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Mansfield, OH
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Source: Courtesy of Black Rain Ordnance Inc. via Facebook
23. Black Rain Ordnance Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 110,727 (0.8% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 3.4% handguns; 40.3% rifles; 56.3% misc.
> Popular firearm model(s): BRO-SPEC15 rifle, BRO-PREDATOR rifle, BRO-SCOUT rifle
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Neosho, MO
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Source: Courtesy of Radical Firearms via Facebook
22. Radical Firearms LLC
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 126,040 (0.9% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 20.7% handguns; 79.3% rifles
> Popular firearm model(s): 16″ 7.62×39 with 12″ RPR rifle, 7.5″ 5.56 NATO pistol with 7″MHR
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Stafford, TX
Source: Courtesy of Century Arms via Facebook
21. Century Arms Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 132,705 (1.0% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 3.7% handguns; 46.0% rifles; 50.2% misc.
> Popular firearm model(s): BFT-47 rifle, VSKA rifle, DRACO pistol
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Georgia, VT
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20. Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 151,771 (1.1% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 59.5% handguns; 40.5% rifles
> Popular firearm model(s): Python revolver, King Cobra revolver, 1911 pistol, M4 Carbine
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): West Hartford, CT
Source: Courtesy of BERETTA via Facebook
19. Beretta USA Corp.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 155,352 (1.1% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 83.7% handguns; 0.8% rifles; 15.6% shotguns
> Popular firearm model(s): 92X pistol, A300 Ultima shotgun, Ultraleggero shotgun
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Gallatin, TN
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Source: Courtesy of Diamondback Firearms via Facebook
18. Diamondback Firearms LLC
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 163,195 (1.2% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 18.0% handguns; 81.6% rifles; 0.4% misc.
> Popular firearm model(s): Sidekick revolver, DB15 rifle, DB10 rifle
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Cocoa, FL
17. FN America, LLC
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 169,407 (1.2% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 78.0% handguns; 22.0% rifles
> Popular firearm model(s): FN 502 pistol, FN SCAR 205 NRCH rifle, FN 15 Guardian rifle
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Columbia, SC
Source: Courtesy of Aero Precision via Facebook
16. Aero Precision LLC
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 177,059 (1.3% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 0.3% rifles; 99.7% misc.
> Popular firearm model(s): AR-15 barrels, upper receivers, and lower receivers
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Tacoma and Lakewood, WA
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Source: Courtesy of Legacy Sports International International via Facebook
15. Legacy Sports International Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 214,258 (1.6% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 2.8% handguns; 22.1% rifles; 75.2% shotguns
> Popular firearm model(s): Pointer shotgun, Citadel Coach shotgun, Howa H7 rifle
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Reno, NV
Source: Courtesy of KelTec via Facebook
14. Kel Tec CNC Industries Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 215,804 (1.6% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 46.5% handguns; 31.8% rifles; 21.7% shotguns
> Popular firearm model(s): P15 pistol, PLR22 pistol, SU16 rifle, KS7 shotgun
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Cocoa, FL
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13. SCCY Industries LLC
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 216,932 (1.6% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 100% handguns
> Popular firearm model(s): DVG-1 pistol, CPX-4 pistol
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Daytona Beach, FL
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12. Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 290,780 (2.1% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 100% handguns
> Popular firearm model(s): G3 pistol, 605 revolver, 44 revolver, GX4 pistol
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Bainbridge, GA
11. Kimber Mfg. Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 294,750 (2.1% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 98.9% handguns; 1.1% rifles
> Popular firearm model(s): Hunter rifle, K6XS revolver, K6S DASA revolver, AEGIS 1911 pistol
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Troy, AL, Yonkers, NY
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Source: Courtesy of Henry Repeating Arms
10. Henry RAC Holding Corp
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 320,603 (2.3% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 1.0% handguns; 92.6% rifles; 5.0% shotguns; 1.4% misc.
> Popular firearm model(s): Golden Boy rifle, Big Boy Carbine, Long Ranger rifle
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Bayonne, NJ, Rice Lake, WI
Source: Courtesy of Savage Arms via Facebook
9. Savage Arms, Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 406,867 (2.9% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 0.2% handguns; 96.6% rifles; 3.3% shotguns
> Popular firearm model(s): 110 rifle, 63 rifle, 320 shotgun
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Westfield, MA
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8. Maverick Arms (Incl. Mossberg)
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 492,444 (3.6% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 5.0% handguns; 14.4% rifles; 59.5% shotguns; 21.2% misc.
> Popular firearm model(s): Mossberg 500 shotgun, Mossberg Patriot rifle, MC2C pistol
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Eagle Pass, TX, North Haven, CT
Source: Courtesy of Heritage Firearms via Facebook
7. Heritage Manufacturing, Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 505,601 (3.7% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 97.4% handguns; 2.6% rifles
> Popular firearm model(s): Barkeep revolver, Rough Rider revolver, Rancher carbine
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Bainbridge, GA
Source: Courtesy of Anderson Manufacturing via Facebook
6. WM C Anderson Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 505,635 (3.7% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 0.3% handguns; 6.4% rifles; 93.3% misc.
> Popular firearm model(s): Kiger 9C pistol, AM-15 rifle, upper and lower receivers
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Hebron, KY
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5. Glock Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 581,944 (4.2% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 100% handguns
> Popular firearm model(s): G19 pistol, G17 pistol, G27 pistol
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Smyrna, GA
Source: Courtesy of SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
4. Springfield Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 590,750 (4.3% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 25.1% handguns; 74.9% rifles
> Popular firearm model(s): Saint AR-15 rifle, Hellcat pistol, 1911 pistol
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Geneseo, IL
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Source: Courtesy of SIG SAUER via Facebook
3. Sig Sauer Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 1,294,185 (9.4% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 93.8% handguns; 6.2% rifles
> Popular firearm model(s): MCX-Spear rifle, P320 pistol
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Newington and Exeter, NH
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2. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 2,078,013 (15.1% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 64.3% handguns; 35.5% rifles; 0.3% misc.
> Popular firearm model(s): Mark IV pistol, 10/22 rifle, Bearcat pistol, American rifle
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Newport, NH, Prescott, AZ, Mayodan, NC, Southport, CT
Source: NoDerog / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
1. Smith & Wesson
> Domestic firearm production, 2021: 2,317,792 (16.8% of all U.S. made firearms)
> 2021 production by firearm type: 81.2% handguns; 18.4% rifles; 0.1% shotguns; 0.2% misc.
> Popular firearm model(s): Model 60 revolver, M&P Shield pistol, M&P 15 rifle
> U.S. manufacturing location(s): Columbia, MO, Springfield, MA
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