During the pandemic, firearms sales skyrocketed, and although gun companies have seen a decline in firearms post-pandemic, with sales dropping by 12% from 2021 to 2022, there is still higher consumer demand for pistols – particularly semi-automatic handguns. This has outpaced demand for every other firearm type in the United States nearly every year since 2010. And among the many caliber handguns available, 9mm is the most popular.
First invented in the late 19th century with the Salvator Dormus, followed by the Schönberger-Laumann and the Borchardt, semi-automatic pistols have been a favorite of gun users for quite some time. Favored for their relatively light recoil, they increased in popularity once they began to be mass-produced. Not only the most popular pistol caliber on the civilian market, 9mm handguns are also used in the U.S. military and by state and local law enforcement agencies across the country. (These are the 22 firearms used by federal agents.)
Though physically smaller than many other commonly available handgun ammunition, such as .40 and .45 caliber, 9mm cartridges sacrifice little in the way of performance, particularly as a self-defense round. Meanwhile, the smaller size of a 9mm round allows for greater magazine capacity and reduced recoil.
24/7 Wall St. identified the top manufacturers behind America’s best-selling 9mm pistols by using data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Firearm companies are ranked by total domestic production of 9mm handguns in 2021. Data on the location of each company’s production facilities and total firearm manufacturing output in 2021 are also from the ATF.
All manufacturers on this list made more than 11,000 9mm pistols in the United States in 2021. Still, just a handful of gunmakers dominate the market for 9mm handguns. Over 60% of all 9mm pistols produced in America in 2021 were made by only three companies – Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, and Ruger. (Here is a look at the most powerful handguns.)
For some of these manufacturers, 9mm handguns represent only a small share of their business. While Sig Sauer focuses almost exclusively on pistol production, for brands like Ruger and Smith & Wesson, rifles and revolvers also account for a significant share of total manufacturing output.
Here are the top manufacturers behind America’s best-selling 9mm pistols
23. FM Products Inc.
Source: Courtesy of FM Products via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 11,163 (0.3% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): FM9 9mm AR-15 Pistol
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Boise, ID
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 18,593
22. Masterpiece Arms Holding Company
Source: Courtesy of MasterPiece Arms via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 13,489 (0.3% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): MPA DS9 Commander
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Comer, GA
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 15,305
21. Freedom Ordnance Manufacturing Inc.
Source: Courtesy of Freedom Ordnance via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 13,741 (0.3% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): FX-9 Pistol Carbine
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Chandler, IN
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 14,508
20. ZEV Technologies Inc.
Source: Courtesy of ZEV Technologies via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 14,130 (0.3% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): OZ9 Duty Standard Pistol, OZ9 Combat Standard Pistol, OZ9 Elite Standard Pistol
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Centralia, WA
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 23,235
19. Bond Arms, Inc.
Source: Courtesy of Bond Arms via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 15,065 (0.4% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): Backup Derringer, Bullpup 9
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Granbury, TX
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 80,093
18. Diamondback Firearms LLC
Source: Courtesy of Diamondback Firearms via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 15,557 (0.4% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): AM2, DB9
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Cocoa, FL
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 163,195
17. CZ-USA
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 16,070 (0.4% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): CZ 75 B, CZ Shadow 2, CZ P-10
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Kansas City, KS, Norwich, NY
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 22,358
16. Polymer80 Inc.
Source: Courtesy of Polymer80 via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 21,695 (0.5% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): P80 PFS9
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Dayton, NV
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 21,695
15. STI Firearms, LLC
Source: Courtesy of Staccato 2011 via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 22,279 (0.5% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): Staccato P, Staccato CS
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Georgetown, TX
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 22,362
14. Maverick Arms, Inc.
Source: artas / iStock via Getty Images
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 24,311 (0.6% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): N/A
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Eagle Pass, TX
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 492,167
13. IWI US Inc.
Source: Courtesy of IWI US via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 30,850 (0.7% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): Jericho 941 F9, MASADA
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Middletown, PA
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 96,662
12. Springfield Inc.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 34,351 (0.8% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): Hellcat, 1911 Ronin, 1911 Garrison, XD-M Elite
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Geneseo, IL
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 590,750
11. Strassells Machine Inc.
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 54,907 (1.3% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): Hi-Point Model C9
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Mansfield, OH
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 106,807
10. Shadow Systems LLC
Source: Courtesy of Shadow Systems via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 59,615 (1.4% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): CR920, MR920, MR920L, DR920
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Plano, TX
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 59,615
9. Beretta USA Corp
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 102,602 (2.4% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): APX A1 Carry, 92X Performance Carry, 92G Elite LTT, M9
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Gallatin, TN
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 155,352
8. FN America, LLC
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 112,673 (2.6% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): FN Reflex, FN 509, FN High Power
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Columbia, SC
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 169,407
7. Kimber Mfg. Inc.
Source: Courtesy of Kimber via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 149,101 (3.5% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): 1911 Aegis Elite Custom, R7 MAKO, Micro 9 ESV
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Troy, AL, Yonkers, NY
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 294,750
6. Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.
Source: Courtesy of Taurus USA via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 177,778 (4.1% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): GX4, 1911, 92, G3
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Bainbridge, GA
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 290,780
5. SCCY Industries LLC
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 216,932 (5.0% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): DVG-1, CPX-2
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Daytona Beach, FL
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 216,932
4. Glock Inc.
Source: Courtesy of GLOCK via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 391,104 (9.1% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): G17, G19, G26, G34, G45
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Smyrna, GA
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 581,944
3. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
Source: Courtesy of Ruger via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 455,863 (10.6% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): Max-9, SR1911, American
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Newport, NH, Prescott, AZ, Mayodan, NC, Southport, CT
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 2,078,013
2. Smith & Wesson Inc.
Source: Courtesy of Smith & Wesson Inc. via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 1,050,800 (24.4% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): M&P 9 Shield, CSX, SD9, SD9 VE
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Columbia, MO
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 2,317,792
1. Sig Sauer Inc.
Source: Courtesy of SIG SAUER via Facebook
- 9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 1,165,995 (27.1% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
- Popular 9mm pistol model(s): P210, P320, P365
- 9mm pistol U.S. manufacturing location(s): Newington and Exeter, NH
- Total domestic firearm production in 2021: 1,294,185
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