Special Report

Countries That Make America's Favorite Foreign-Made Rifles, Ranked

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: February 25, 2024 11:30 am

The United States is the largest civilian firearm market across the globe. No other nation comes even close to the amount of gun ownership rates seen in America. But not all weapons are favored equally and while semi-automatic pistols are by far the most popular type of firearm in the U.S., outselling rifles nearly every year in the last decade, rifles are seeing a resurgence in popularity.

According to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, gunmakers manufactured over 3.9 million rifles domestically in 2021, a 42.5% increase from the previous year, and more than double the number produced in 2019. This may not be as high as the number of handguns manufactured in the same year – 12.9 million – but the increase in rifle numbers still illustrates the growing prevalence. (Here is a look at America’s favorite rifle companies.)

Domestically produced firearms may account for most U.S. sales, but many foreign gunmakers are also cashing in, with nearly 9.4 million rifles imported to the U.S. from 2010 to 2020. These countries are concentrated mainly in Europe, though other continents are also represented on this list. The types of rifles these countries are selling to the U.S. market vary, from traditional hunting rifles to so-called “modern sporting rifles,” which are civilian versions of assault-style weapons commonly used in the military. (Here is a look at the 30 most powerful long-range hunting rifles.)

Using data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ National Firearms Commerce and Tracking Assessment report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the countries that make America’s favorite foreign-made rifles. The countries listed here accounted for about 87% of all foreign-made rifles shipped to the U.S. between 2010 and 2020. 

Semi-automatic AR-15 style firearms are now the most popular rifle in the country, with sales of these modern sporting rifles having surged in recent years. Because these weapons are often the kind used in mass shootings, some states, including California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, have effectively banned the sale of these assault-style weapons. 

Here are the countries that make America’s favorite foreign-made rifles.

10. Italy

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• Rifles exported to U.S., 2010-2020: 274,973 (3.0% of all imported rifles)
• Popular rifle brand made in Italy: Italian Firearms Group

9. Czech Republic

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• Rifles exported to U.S., 2010-2020: 293,891 (3.2% of all imported rifles)
• Popular rifle brand made in Czech Republic: CZ

8. Spain

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• Rifles exported to U.S., 2010-2020: 327,177 (3.6% of all imported rifles)
• Popular rifle brand made in Spain: Bergara

7. Belgium

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• Rifles exported to U.S., 2010-2020: 336,107 (3.7% of all imported rifles)
• Popular rifle brand made in Belgium: FN Herstal

6. Finland

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• Rifles exported to U.S., 2010-2020: 437,659 (4.8% of all imported rifles)
• Popular rifle brand made in Finland: Sako

5. Germany

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• Rifles exported to U.S., 2010-2020: 573,663 (6.3% of all imported rifles)
• Popular rifle brand made in Germany: Heckler & Koch

4. Russia

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• Rifles exported to U.S., 2010-2020: 654,905 (7.1% of all imported rifles)
• Popular rifle brand made in Russia: Kalashnikov Group

3. Japan

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• Rifles exported to U.S., 2010-2020: 832,346 (9.1% of all imported rifles)
• Popular rifle brand made in Japan: Howa Machinery

2. Brazil

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• Rifles exported to U.S., 2010-2020: 1,443,750 (15.8% of all imported rifles)
• Popular rifle brand made in Brazil: Rossi

1. Canada

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• Rifles exported to U.S., 2010-2020: 2,773,137 (30.3% of all imported rifles)
• Popular rifle brand made in Canada: Savage