NEWTOWN, Conn. — -(AmmoLand.com)- National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearm industry trade association, updated the industry estimate of Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) in circulation in the United States to 24,446,000 since 1990.
That is an increase of over 4.5 million rifles since the last estimate was released in 2020.
The estimate is derived from NSSF research, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Exportation Report (AFMER) and U.S. International Trade Commission (U.S. ITC) data, in cooperation with manufacturers, importers and exporters of MSRs, or AR-15 and AK-style rifles.
This most recent estimate includes production figures current through 2020 when the industry estimates over 2,798,000 of these rifles were produced or imported. This estimate does not include MSRs that were produced and exported or imported and later exported.
The MSR remains the most-popular selling centerfire semiautomatic rifle in the United States today. There are more MSRs in circulation today than Ford F-Series trucks on the road.
“This is a truly significant figure that demonstrates – again – the popularity of this commonly-owned style of rifle,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi. “The firearm industry responds to market demand and this shows that during the elevated period of firearm sales that began in 2020, this particular style of rifle is the top choice for law-abiding citizens for hunting, recreational shooting and self-defense.”
The MSR’s popularity for lawful ownership is attributable to several factors, including accuracy, reliability, modularity, and low recoil.
Modern Sporting Rifle Estimates 1990-2020 Source: National Shooting Sports Foundation
About National Shooting Sports Foundation
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.
Those darned Armalites are like rabbits. I can put 2 of them in a closet overnight, and whe I open the closet door next morning, 3 rifles tumble out.
I prefer MILITIA STANDARD RIFLE rather than the sporting rifle term that came from the gungrabbers and Eastern European dictatorships..
FAFO. If they F around, they will Find Out.
Anyone know whether the 24.4 million figure includes AR pistols and/or stripped receivers sold as “other”? We know it does not include 80% lowers of which there are likely millions (??). If stripped lowers are not counted, I imagine accurate count would be considerably higher (20%-100%+). Given that AR pistols seem to have become as popular as carbines, if they were not counted total might be several millions higher. Also important to recognize that there are likely others sold before 1990 when this count started, though I suspect that is lower than the number of 80% lowers turned into functioning… Read more »
I’d be willing to bet the numbers are actually higher than stated.
Well they promised, warned, they will take our AR-15’s and AK-47’s and they are on the verge of doing exactly that. Now what? If they try there will be a civil war. They will send cops, feds and maybe the military to grab all the REGISTERED, store bought rifles and pistols directly from households. This act and many like it make ALL those who have sworn the oath to defend the people, the nation and the constitution traitors and deserving of it’s consequences. The tree of liberty that Jefferson wrote about looks like it’s about to be refreshed. I have… Read more »