This Popular Gun Accounts for 1 in 5 US-Made Rifles

In terms of gun popularity, Americans prefer pistols, otherwise known as semi-automatic handguns with sliding magazines. The popularity of these guns is possibly due to their ease of use and concealment, with the Glock G17 being the best-selling gun in America in 2023. Though not making the top of the list, semi-automatic rifles are still favored by plenty. While 72% of American gun owners possess handguns, 62% have a rifle.

Though firearms date back to the mid 1320s, it wasn’t until centuries later, in the early 1900s, that semi-automatic rifles were being sold to citizens. These popular guns were designed by manufacturers like Remmington Arms. In 1911, during the Mexican Revolution, Mexico became the first nation to use semi-automatic rifles in combat.

These new semi-automatic rifles were appealing for many reasons. While they offered the same power as traditional hunting rifles, they had a clear advantage: automatic loading. Each pull of the trigger fired a single bullet, but also automatically ejected the spent cartridge and loaded a fresh round into the chamber. This eliminated the need for manual loading after each shot.

Today, consumer demand for rifles throughout the United States is continuing to rise. Data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) reveals a significant increase in domestic rifle production. On average, 3.3 million rifles were manufactured annually in the U.S. over the decade ending in 2022. In contrast, between 2003 and 2012 a lower average of 1.9 million rifles were produced annually, and only 1.4 million were produced annually for the decade ending in 2002.

This surge in rifle sales can be attributed in part to the growing popularity of modern sporting rifles (MSRs). MSRs are semi-automatic rifles built on the platform of military rifles (such as the AR-15 or AK-47), offering civilian-legal versions of familiar military designs. According to a report from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, an industry advocacy group, over 2.4 million MSRs were purchased by Americans between 1990 and 2020, with nearly 75% of those sales occurring since 2011.

To identify the 10 most popular semi-automatic rifles in America, 24/7 Wall St. used a report from Gun Genius, which analyzed sales data from GunBroker.com, one of the largest online firearm marketplaces. Our list ranks rifles according to sales volume in 2023, although specific figures are not available. Additional data on domestic manufacturing locations and production volume comes from a 2021 report by the ATF.

This list reflects sales trends on online marketplaces, not overall gun sales. Unlike most online purchases, firearms require transfer through a Federally Licensed Firearm Dealer (FFL). FFLs are typically local gun stores that conduct background checks before shipping the firearms to the buyer. In addition, although base models of many popular rifles can be found for a few hundred dollars, prices can vary significantly depending on specific features and customizations.

Why We’re Covering This

America’s gun market is booming, and the most popular firearms tell us a lot about what’s going on in the nation. Certain gun companies are consistently topping the sales charts. Such data provides useful information for investing in defense stocks. The types of guns people are buying can also provide insights into contemporary events. A sudden rise in popularity for a particular rifle, for example, can sometimes reflect growing tensions at home and overseas. In addition, America’s gun industry plays a big role in politics. The most popular rifles can illustrate the power of manufacturing companies and how they influence our culture and decision-making.

These are the best-selling semi-automatic rifles in America: