Top 10 Gunmakers—Anderson Manufacturing Returns To The List

Here are the top 10 gun manufacturers, by volume in descending order, based on the recently released 2023 Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Exportation report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Familiar brands remained unchanged in the top four when compared to 2022 results, but other positions were swapped and one brand rejoined the list.   

Figures below reflect total volume produced in 2023, followed by the company’s change from its 2022 position in the ranking.  

1. Ruger—1,305,615—0
2. SIG Sauer—1,020,755—0
3. Smith & Wesson—991,847—0
4. Savage Arms—725,644—0
5. Palmetto State Armory—581,742—+1
6. Henry Repeating Arms—411,786—+3
7. Mossberg—397,922—+1
8. Glock Inc.—345,119—-1
9. Anderson Manufacturing—337,658—+8
10. Springfield Armory—308,040—-5

Anderson Manufacturing is the only company on the list—compiled by Orchid Advisors—that did not rank in the top 10 the year before. It is, however, familiar terrain for the firm. In 2021, it was No. 6, a year in which 505,635 guns rolled out of its Kentucky factory.

Interestingly, Anderson more than doubled its production in 2023—337,658 compared to 157,264 firearms in 2022—when most of the industry cautiously scaled back. “In 2023, U.S. firearm production declined by 13% to 9.8 million units, down from 11.2 million units in 2022,” the Orchid Advisors report explains. “Production declined for the second consecutive year following the peak of 13.8 million in 2021, driven by COVID and social unrest.”

Aero Precision, which ranked No. 11 in 2023, also increased the number of firearms it made—up from 2022’s total of 202,265 to 228,937. Four companies entered the top 30 ranks in 2023. They were Wilson Combat, Staccato, North American Arms and Browning Arms.

Overall, the total number of pistols produced in 2023 was 3,939,518. The revolver total came in at 805,054. Rifle and shotgun totals were 3,119,376 and 602,782, respectively.