MSRs (short for modern sporting rifles) are AR-15-style rifles that lack the fully automatic and burst-fire capabilities of their military counterparts (such as the M16 and AK-47). MSRs accounted for 23.4% of all firearms manufactured in the U.S. in 2020, as reported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the ATF.
Used for home defense, target shooting, and even hunting, this style of rifle is owned by an estimated 16 million people. They may be popular but MSRs are also politically divisive. Assault-style rifles have been used in 10 of the 17 deadliest mass shootings in the U.S. in the last decade. These types of firearms were banned nationwide from 1994 to 2004, and several states still have standing restrictions on MSRs. (These are the states where the government will take your gun by force.)
24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 most popular semi-automatic rifles in America by using a report from Gungenius, which compiled sales data from the online firearms marketplace GunBroker.com. Guns are ranked on 2022 online sales, though exact sales numbers were not provided. Not all of the rifles on this list are military style weapons. (Check out America’s largest gunmakers.)
This list was compiled using online gun sales only. Unlike most items purchased online, firearms are usually not shipped directly to your door. Buyers usually have to have their gun shipped to a Federally Licensed Firearm Dealer – which will then run a background check before transferring the gun to the customer.
Scroll to the end to read our detailed methodology.
Here are how much the 10 most popular semi-automatic rifles in America cost:
10. FNH SCAR
- Approx. base price: $3,699
- Popular usages: Home defense, target shooting
- Chambered in: 5.56x45mm, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7.62x51mm
About the FNH SCAR
The FNH Scar is manufactured by the Herstal Group in McLean, Virginia (part of FN America).
9. Ruger AR-556
- Approx. base price: $1,019
- Popular usages: Home defense, target shooting
- Chambered in: 5.56x45mm, .450 Bushmaster, .350 Legend, .223 Wylde, .300 BLK
About the Ruger AR-556
The Ruger AR-556 is manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. in Southport, Connecticut. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has produced 3,263,701 rifles between 2016-2020, which accounts for 22.0% of all U.S. rifle production.
8. Colt M4 Carbine
- Approx. base price: $849
- Popular usages: Home defense, target shooting
- Chambered in: .223 Rem, 5.56x45mm
About the Colt M4 Carbine
The Colt M4 Carbine is manufactured by Colt CZ Group in Hartford, Connecticut.
7. Browning BAR Rifle
- Approx. base price: $1,230
- Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting
- Chambered in: .243 Win, .308 Win, .270 WSM, .270 Win, .30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm-08, .300 Win Mag, .25-06 Rem
About the Browning BAR Rifle
The Browning BAR Rifle is manufactured by Herstal Group in Morgan, Utah.
6. Smith & Wesson M&P15
- Approx. base price: $489
- Popular usages: Home defense, target shooting, hunting
- Chambered in: .22 LR, 5.56x45mm, 6mm ARC
About the Smith & Wesson M&P15
The Smith & Wesson M&P15 is manufactured by Smith & Wesson Corp in Springfield, Massachusetts. Smith & Wesson Corp has produced 1,596,895 rifles between 2016-2020, which accounts for 10.8% of all U.S. rifle production.
5. Zastava Arms ZPAP
- Approx. base price: $1,100
- Popular usages: Home defense, target shooting
- Chambered in: 7.62x39mm, 5.56x45mm
About the Zastava Arms ZPAP
The Zastava Arms ZPAP is manufactured by Zastava Arms in Des Plaines, Illinois.
4. Springfield Armory M1A
- Approx. base price: $1,770
- Popular usages: Home defense, target shooting, hunting
- Chambered in: .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor
About the Springfield Armory M1A
The Springfield Armory M1A is manufactured by Springfield, Inc in Geneseo, Illinois. The Springfield, Inc has produced 543,566 rifles between 2016-2020, which accounts for 3.7% of all U.S. rifle production.
3. Springfield Armory Saint
- Approx. base price: $1,023
- Popular usages: Home defense, target shooting, hunting
- Chambered in: 5.56x45mm
About the Springfield Armory Saint
The Springfield Armory Saint is manufactured by Springfield, Inc in Geneseo, Illinois. Springfield, Inc has produced 543,566 between 2016-2020, which accounts for 3.7% of all U.S. rifle production.
2. Ruger Mini-14
- Approx. base price: $1,259
- Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting, home defense
- Chambered in: 5.56x45mm, 7.62x39mm
About the Ruger Mini-14
The Ruger Mini-14 is manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. in Southport, Connecticut. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has produced 3,263,701 rifles between 2016-2020, which accounts for 22.0% of all U.S. rifle production.
1. Ruger 10/22
- Approx. base price: $379
- Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting
- Chambered in: .22 LR
About the Ruger 10/22
The Ruger 10/22 is manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. in Southport, Connecticut. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has produced 3,263,701 between 2016-2020, which accounts for 22.0% of all U.S. rifle production.
Methodology
To identify the best-selling semi-automatic rifles in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a report from Gungenius, which uses data from Gunbroker.com, an online firearm sales platform. The model or model families that make up the guns on this list are ranked by their 2022 unit sales on Gunbroker.com.
Data on 2016-2020 U.S. gun manufacturing totals for the companies on this list is from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Tobacco. Domestic manufacturing data was not available for every company on this list.
The approximate base price for each firearm is from the manufacturer’s website. Many of the model families on this list have variations, however, that are far more expensive than the price listed in this story.
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