By The Numbers: 2020 Handgun Production Dominates

Editor’s note: In an online-only series, we’re taking a deep dive into 2020’s U.S. firearms production figures. Here’s a close look at why 2020 was “The Year of the Handgun.”

There’s no question: handguns are the dominant force in the U.S. firearms market. According to ATF’s Annual Firearms Manufacturing & Export Report (AFMER) data, each year since 2007 — a span of 14 years — handgun production in the U.S. has outpaced every other category. In that time, there have been 54,861,320 handguns produced in the U.S., surpassing the combined total of 49,086,692 rifles and shotguns (38,573,058 and 10,513,634, respectively).

And the gap has widened significantly — culminating in a record 6,502,261 handguns produced in the U.S. in 2020, according to ATF’s most recent AFMER data. Impressively, handguns accounted for just over two-thirds of total U.S. firearms production in 2020 (66.8%). (Putting this into additional context, handgun production in 2020, on its own, is greater than the total firearms production of every year prior to 2012.)

10-Year Look At Pistol Production

While 2020 can certainly be described as “The Year of the Handgun” — it would be even more precise to label it “The Year of the 9mm Pistol.” Thanks to individual breakdowns in production by caliber, ATF’s AFMER data shows pistols in the “To 9mm” category totaled 3,211,775, a record.

As noted in the “U.S. Firearms Industry Today” report (published in the July 2022 issue of SI), about three of every five handguns produced in the U.S. during 2020 were 9mm pistols (58.3%).

Handguns accounted for over two-thirds of total U.S. firearms production in 2020 (66.8%).

SIG SAUER was the top producer of 9mm pistols in 2020, with 959,094 produced. Not too far behind, Smith & Wesson was the second-largest, with 937,933. Combined, these two manufacturers commanded over half of all 9mm production in 2020 (59.1%).

Displayed in the 10 Years Of Pistol Production chart below, rimfire production experienced a record year (678,967 pistols in the “To .22” caliber produced), as did the “To .25” and “To .32” categories.

Ruger was the top producer in the .22 (187,617) and .25 (124,736) categories. The “To .25” category total was no doubt elevated by the Dec. 2019 introduction of the Ruger-5.7 pistol. Likewise, the .22 pistol category received a boost thanks to GLOCK’s entrance into the rimfire market — the G44 — also unveiled Dec. 2019. GLOCK was the second-largest rimfire producer in 2020, with 128,157 pistols produced in the “To .22” category.

After topping the 1 million mark in 2016 (1,130,459), the “To .380” category has gradually cooled. Other than 2019, the 2020 mark of 659,899 is the lowest observed since 2012.

Similarly, the “To .50” caliber category — which includes .40 S&W, 10mm, .45 ACP, among others — has dropped in recent years.

10-Year Look At Revolver Production

In 2020, U.S. revolver production jumped to its highest level, 993,078 (according to our records) — topping the previous record of 885,259, set in 2015.

Rimfire revolvers led the way (597,015) in 2020, constituting more than half of U.S. revolver production (60.1%). Heritage Mfg. was the top producer in the revolver category, a title it has held in three of the past four years. (And nearly all of its production was in the “To .22” category.)

Ruger (205,090) and North American Arms (50,562) were the other two top-producing revolver makers in the “To .22” category.

All Eyes On 2021

It won’t be long until we see 2021 production figures, with ATF due to publish its interim report soon. Traditionally, this is published in July, so stay tuned. It will be compelling to see where handguns stack up to rifles and shotguns once again.

Editor’s Note: For additional analysis, including international business trends, see the “U.S. Firearms Industry Today” feature published in the July 2022 issue of SI. Have a comment? Send to editor@shootingindustry.com.