The political future of three-term Maine Congressman Jared Golden hangs in the balance as gun control laws once again reach the forefront of election discussions. Following the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history, in which 18 people were killed and many were wounded, the topic is now bearing weight on voters’ choices. Golden, a Democrat, has long gone against his party when it comes to gun rights for everyday citizens. However, since the shooting, even he has decided to change his position, supporting bans on assault weapons.
Since the expiration of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 2004, production of assault weapons has continued to increase, reaching over 1 million every year since 2015. In 2020, that figure jumped to 2.8 million. In the last three years, American gunmakers have manufactured an average of 6.1 million pistols annually, up from the 3.5 million average in the prior three years. Domestic firearm production directly reflects the kinds of guns Americans buy, and the latest sales report from the largest online firearm and ammunition marketplace shows that industry trends of recent years continued through 2023.
Using a report from Gun Genius, which analyzed sales data from the online firearm marketplace GunBroker.com, 24/7 Wall St. identified America’s 25 best-selling firearms in 2023. Guns are ranked on sales volume in the 2023 calendar year, though exact sales figures were not provided.
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 – usually a local gun store – which will run a background check before transferring the gun to the customer. Additionally, while the estimated base price of many of these firearms can be as low as a few hundred dollars, higher-end variations can sell for many times that amount.
Why Are We Writing About Last Year’s Gun Sales in the US?
The United States is the world’s largest consumer market for firearms, and nearly every gunmaker we note here has at least one major U.S. production plant, including Glock, which has its global headquarters in Austria, and Beretta, headquartered in Italy. Combined, these companies manufactured over 737,000 firearms in the U.S. in 2021.
The firearms that made this list are made by 15 different companies under 17 brands, including some of the biggest names in the industry. Henry Repeating Arms, Glock, RemArms, and Sig Sauer each have multiple firearm models listed. But the largest share is made by Ruger, a company that manufactured over 2 million firearms in the U.S. in 2021, or 15.1% of total domestic production, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
These are America’s best-selling firearms.
25. Glock G17
The Glock G17 is a 9mm pistol manufactured by Glock, Inc., in Smyrna, GA. Its approximate base retail price is $450. In 2021, domestic firearm production of Glocks was 581,944.
24. Remington Model 870
RemArms in Ilion, NY, manufactured the Remington Model 870, a pump-action shotgun. The available chambering for this shotgun is 12 ga, 20 ga, and .410. The Remington Model 870’s approximate base retail price is $410. In 2021, 86,594 Remington units were produced, or 0.6% of all U.S.-made firearms.
23. Armscor/RIA Rock
In 2021, Armscor in Pahrump, NY, manufactured 73 units. The Armscor/RIA Rock pistols are available in the .40, .45, 9mm, and 10mm chamberings. The approximate base retail price for this pistol is $380.
22. Rossi R92
The Rossi R92 is a lever-action rifle manufactured by Rossi. Its approximate base retail price is $620. The available chambering for this rifle are .30-30, .454 Casual, .38, .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .45, and .45-70.
21. Magnum Research Desert Eagle
Magnum Research, Inc. in Pillager, MN, manufactured the Magnum Research Desert Eagle pistol. The available chambering for this pistol are .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .50 AE, and .429. The Magnum Research Desert Eagle’s approximate base retail price is $1,660. In 2021, 14,586 Remington units were produced, or 0.1% of all U.S.-made firearms.
20. Heritage Rough Rider
In 2021, Heritage Manufacturing in Bainbridge, GA, manufactured 505,601 units. The Heritage Rough Rider revolver is available in the .22 LR, .22 Mag, and .22 WMR chamberings. The approximate base retail price for this revolver is $110.
19. Browning X-Bolt
The Browning X-Bolt is a bolt action rifle manufactured by Herstal Group in Morgan, UT (Browning). Its approximate base retail price is $740. In 2021, domestic firearm production of the Browning was 44,494 (0.3% of all U.S.-made firearms).
18. Springfield Hellcat
Springfield Armory in Geneseo, IL, manufactured the Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol. The Springfield Hellcat’s approximate base retail price is $500. In 2021, 590,750 Springfield units were produced, or 4.3% of all U.S.-made firearms.
17. Beretta Model 90
In 2021, Beretta Holding in Gallatin, TN, manufactured 155,352 units. The Beretta Model 90 pistol is available in the .22 LR, .22 WMR, and 9mm chamberings. The approximate base retail price for this revolver is $400.
16. Ruger Blackhawk
The Ruger Blackhawk is a revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company in Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH. Its approximate base retail price is $640. In 2021, the domestic firearm production of Rugers was 2,078,013 (15.1% of all U.S.-made firearms).
15. Remington Model 700
RemArms in Ilion, NY, manufactured the Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle. The Remington’s approximate base retail price is $421. In 2021, 86,594 Remington units were produced, or 0.6% of all U.S.-made firearms.
14. Smith & Wesson M&P9
In 2021, Smith & Wesson in Columbia, MO, and Springfield, MA, manufactured 2,317,792 units. The Smith & Wesson M&P9 pistol is available in the 9mm chamberings. The approximate base retail price for this revolver is $330.
13. Ruger Mark IV
The Ruger Mark IV is a pistol manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company, in Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH. Its approximate base retail price is $400. In 2021, domestic firearm production of Rugers was 2,078,013 (15.1% of all U.S.-made firearms).
12. Colt Python
Colt CZ Group in West Hartford, CT, manufactured the Colt Python revolver. The Colt’s approximate base retail price is $1,230. In 2021, 151,771 Remington units were produced, or 1.1% of all U.S.-made firearms.
11. Marlin Model 1895
In 2021, Sturm, Ruger & Company, in Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH, manufactured 2,0,78,013 firearms. The Marlin Model 1895 lever-action rifle is sold at approximately base price of $1,280 and is available in the .45-70 chambering.
10. Ruger American
The Ruger American is a bolt-action rifle manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company, in Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH. Its approximate base retail price is $480. In 2021, domestic firearm production of the Ruger was 2,078,013 (15.1% of all U.S.-made firearms).
9. Henry Side Gate
Henry Repeating Arms in Rice Lake, WI, and Bayonne, NJ, manufactured the Henry Side Gate lever-action rifle. The Henry’s approximate base retail price is $870. In 2021, 320,603 Henry units were produced, or 2.3% of all U.S.-made firearms.
8. CZ-USA CZ 75
In 2021, Colt CZ Group, in Kansas City, KS and Norwich, NY, manufactured 155,616 firearms (1.1% of all U.S.-made firearms). The CZ-USA CZ 75 pistol is sold at an approximate base price of $500 and is available in the .9mm chambering.
7. Glock G43
The Glock G43 is a pistol manufactured by Glock, Inc., in Smyrna, GA. Its approximate base retail price is $420. In 2021, domestic firearm production of the Glock was 581,944 (4.2% of all U.S.-made firearms).
6. Glock G19
Glock, Inc. in Smyrna, GA, manufactured the Glock G19 pistol. The Glock’s approximate base retail price is $500. In 2021, 581,944 Glock units were produced, or 4.2% of all U.S.-made firearms.
5. Henry Big Boy
In 2021, Henry Repeating Arms, in Rice Lake, WI, and Bayonne, NJ, manufactured 320,603 firearms (2.3% of all U.S.-made firearms). The Henry Big Boy lever-action rifle is sold at approximately base price of $850 and is available in the .327 Mag, .41 Mag, .38, .357 Mag, .44 Mag, and .45 chambering.
4. Ruger 10/22
The Ruger 10/22 is a semi-automatic rifle manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company, in Prescott, AZ, Southport, CT, Mayodan, NC, and Newport, NH. Its approximate base retail price is $270. In 2021, domestic firearm production of the Ruger was 2,078,013 (15.1% of all U.S.-made firearms).
3. Mossberg Model 590
O. F. Mossberg & Sons and Maverick Arms in North Haven, CT and Eagle Pass, TX, manufactured the Mossberg Model 590 pump-action shotgun. The Mossburg’s approximate base retail price is $410. In 2021, 492,444 Mossberg and Maverick units were produced, or 3.6% of all U.S.-made firearms.
2. Sig Sauer P320
In 2021, Sig Saber, in Newington, NH and Exeter, NH, manufactured 1,294,185 firearms (9.4% of all U.S.-made firearms). The Sig Saber P320 pistol is sold at the approximate base price of $470 and is available in the 9mm, .45, and 10mm chambering.
1. Sig Sauer P365
The Sig Sauer P365 is a pistol manufactured by Sig Sauer, in Newington, NH and Exeter, NH. Its approximate base retail price is $480. In 2021, domestic firearm production of Sig Sauers was 1,294,185 (9.4% of all U.S.-made firearms).
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