Hot Guns: Best-Selling Firearms in a Record-Breaking 2020

by
posted on June 14, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
best-sellers-record-sales-2020-f.jpg

The pace of firearm sales has shattered records so far in 2020, with May coming in at an 80.2 percent increase when compared to the same period in 2019. Surveys conducted by the NSSF found most of the purchases were self-defense related, but which guns are they taking home?

Here’s a short list of firearms selling the most in categories traditionally associated with home- and self-defense, as reported by retailers using the services of GunBroker.com.

Handguns outsold long guns by a two-to-one margin last month, so it’s a great place to start. In the semi-auto pistol category, it was the SIG Sauer P320 taking top position, with the Glock G19, Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield rounding out the top three. The results were identical in April.

In revolvers, the Colt Python claimed the crown for May, although its MSRP is almost triple what the average buyer spent last month—an indication knowledgeable enthusiasts aren’t letting crowds at the gun counter keep them away. Second and third place went to the .22 LR-digesting Heritage Arms Rough Rider and Ruger Wrangler, respectively. April’s sales were slightly different with Smith & Wesson 629s leading the way and the company’s model 642 claiming third. The Heritage Arms rimfire stayed put in No. 2.

Long guns may not be selling as fast as handguns, but the home-defense theme is obvious. In semi-autos, the Ruger AR-556 was the top seller in both April and May. Second and third finishers the last two months include the Smith & Wesson M&P15, Ruger PC Carbine, Springfield Saint and Kel-Tec SUB2000.

In semi-auto shotguns, Benelli’s M4 Tactical took top honors in May, with the IWI TS12 taking occupying that position in April. Others in the top trio for both months were the Armscor/Rock Island VR80, Mossberg 930 SPX and Kalashnikov USA KS-12.

When it comes to those rugged pump-action shotguns, the sales hierarchy hardly altered at all in April or May. The Mosserg 590 claimed gold, Maverick Arms 88 took silver and the venerable Remington 870 was third.

Latest

Robbins And Lawrence Armory Vermont
Robbins And Lawrence Armory Vermont

The Robbins & Lawrence Story: Pioneers Of Mass Production

The Robbins & Lawrence company of Windsor, Vt., was an early pioneer in the field of mass production, using machine tools and interchangeable parts to produce firearms for both the U.S. and British governments.

CMP Auctions Move To GunBroker.com

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has moved its popular auctions to GunBroker.com, an online firearm marketplace that launched in 1999, to further support the future of the shooting sports and firearm ownership.

I Have This Old Gun: The French Charleville Musket

One of the most important military arms ever made, the French Charleville musket saw use in the American Revolution and armed French troops throughout the Napoleonic Wars.

CVA Endura Series: The Modernized Muzzleloader Of 2025

CVA built on the success of its Paramount muzzleloader to create the Endura, a design that the company calls "the most advanced muzzleloader series CVA has ever built."

Review: FN 15 Guardian

FN America has sought to bring its legendary quality and reliability to an AR-15 that lists for just $999, and we believe that it has done this well with its 15 Guardian carbine.

Springfield Armory Hellcat Now Available In .380 ACP

Despite the extensive number of Hellcat models in its lineup, Springfield Armory has only offered the pistol in one chambering, 9 mm Luger, until now. The .380 ACP model offers similar capabilities with softer recoil.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.