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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
9mm pistols manufactured domestically in 2021: 16,070 (0.4% of all U.S.-made 9mm pistols)
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