fatcat4620
Member
Dang, swamp man dropped a bomb!
Best Selling Rifle in America
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meanmrmustard
Member
Wow.
ol' scratch
Member
I have a few AR rifles and have built a few for others. All of my rifles are built, and that is part of the reason I went AR. There is only one lower I didn't get from a licensed dealer and that is the one I built on an 80 percent receiver. Great rifles for many reasons. Easy to work on, cheap to shoot, easy to reload for, easy to find parts for, light, easy to customize. I really like AR type rifles.
Ammo-I typically keep around 1500 rounds around, about half of that is reloaded ammo. I keep components and powder too, but I reload for everything I own. I shoot all off that in a season between the three rifles typically.
Ammo-I typically keep around 1500 rounds around, about half of that is reloaded ammo. I keep components and powder too, but I reload for everything I own. I shoot all off that in a season between the three rifles typically.
Ash
Member
The AR is no more extinct than the 1911 is. Patents last 25 years, so the patent on the AR ended before some on this board were even born. Trademarks, on the other hand, are something different. Even so, semantics do not mean the rifle is extinct, merely a trademarked word.
fatcat4620
Member
I have played the parts swap game with my pardner pump and 870. Does that make then the same? Even ordered replacement parts for the pardner from remington.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
By that logic, I suppose nobody shoots AR's anymore, the AR does not dominate everything from 3-gun to USPSA carbine to Camp Perry style matches to recreational centerfire plinking, the AR is not the most common HD carbine in U.S. homes, they don't sell AR's at Walmart, all the Eotechs and Aimpoints and lights and VFG's sold annually are not purchased for AR's, and .223 Remington is far and away the top selling caliber of centerfire rifle ammunition in the United States because of all those bolt-action varmint rifles...
In my opinion, this by any reasonable definition of the term is an "AR" or an AR-15 type rifle, just as a Wilson or Les Baer 1911 is just as much a 1911 as a Colt is:
If you don't like the term "AR" or "AR-15 platform" or "AR-15 type rifle", make up your own, but whatever you choose to call it, that is the top selling rifle design in the United States. It is to centerfire rifles what the 1911 design was to pistols in the 1980s and early 1990s.
In my opinion, if I were assessing whether the 870 platform is the top selling design of pump shotgun in the United States, I'd consider any 870 to be an 870, regardless of maker, just like a 1911 is a 1911 whether or not it is made by Colt, and a M1 Garand is an M1 Garand regardless of who made it. Though I was not aware the design of the 870 is in the public domain (if it is, cool). Is the pardner built to the same blueprints as a Remington 870?
Halal Pork
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"Why do you think is it a hot seller?"
I think sales are through the roof because it is just a huge fad. Why? I could only guess. Maybe watching the military on the news for the past 10+ years could help explain it. Maybe the gun rags putting three AR articles per issue could have something to do with it. Maybe the endless models and accessories and options wow people like a Swatch watch vendor might. So I'm not sure exactly why but I am sure that all things "tactical" have become a fad and it will fade away to some extent eventually.
"Do you have one?"
Yes.
"Why did you choose the AR-15 platform?"
Because I thought at some point I might want one out of a sense of nostalgia and they would no longer be available for sale due to legislation, executive order, or who knows what.
"Did you purchase it from a licensed dealer or a private individual?"
Yes.
"How much ammo do you keep on hand and why?"
Enough. Wish I had bought more when prices were better though.
I think sales are through the roof because it is just a huge fad. Why? I could only guess. Maybe watching the military on the news for the past 10+ years could help explain it. Maybe the gun rags putting three AR articles per issue could have something to do with it. Maybe the endless models and accessories and options wow people like a Swatch watch vendor might. So I'm not sure exactly why but I am sure that all things "tactical" have become a fad and it will fade away to some extent eventually.
"Do you have one?"
Yes.
"Why did you choose the AR-15 platform?"
Because I thought at some point I might want one out of a sense of nostalgia and they would no longer be available for sale due to legislation, executive order, or who knows what.
"Did you purchase it from a licensed dealer or a private individual?"
Yes.
"How much ammo do you keep on hand and why?"
Enough. Wish I had bought more when prices were better though.
American Hunter Rem. 700 advert.: over 7 Million sold in the U.S.A.. I think it's got the AR beat. Love my M4 though.
Doubtful
Its been in production for 50 years.. It doesn't take that many a year to surpass 7m over that time frame. Wiki claims there have been over 11m Model 60's and over 5m 10/22's produced both have around the same production time frame, give or take, as the 700.
While there is no doubt that AR's have become quite popular in the last 8yrs. I dont think they are the top selling rifle. Price point is the main reason IMO.
I think it was Buds who put out their Top Selling list and it was dominated by inexpensive guns. While that is not a true picture of the over all firearms sales in the US, it gives you a slight glimpse of online firearms shoppers. You could also walk into most LGS, Big Box Sporting Goods store or even gun shows and the racks will also be dominated by the cheaper guns. Even on this board almost every single day there is a budget build thread wanting the cheapest entry to the AR world..
madcratebuilder
Member
I'll add to this chatter. Look at all the AR specific internet shops, they are AR only and there are dozens of them. Name one other online shop that does a single style firearm, I can only think of one or two and those are for the 10/22.
Brick and mortar stores, dozens of AR only shops in the country, name one store that does another style of firearm only.
No other platform has the sales number to support this.
Brick and mortar stores, dozens of AR only shops in the country, name one store that does another style of firearm only.
No other platform has the sales number to support this.
OilyPablo
Member
What madcratebuilder posts makes total sense. To me "Best Selling" means a snapshot in time, as in NOW vs. total guns sold since 1950, for example. Add the brick and mortar places with all the web based shops, holy cow it's easy to see the AR-15 currently outsells anything currently.
I would love to see the true tally with AR, AK, bolt action all subdivided, etc
I would love to see the true tally with AR, AK, bolt action all subdivided, etc
I know its hard to believe in this day and age but there are millions and millions of people who do not shop online or belong to forums, etc.
There are shotguns stores in some of the wealthiest places in the US.
There is just no way... The ATF would know. However they only issue reports for Rifles, Pistols, Revolvers, and Shotguns lumped together. Manufacturer and Import/Export.
So we are left with bias or anecdotal evidence.
I like my AR, yet I also own the same guns listed above. (700BDL, Mod 60, 10/22, etc.) I am just not convinced they beat out the simple 22LRs in total sales.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
The AR is the best selling centerfire rifle in the United States, but I would agree that rimfire sales probably top the centerfire numbers. I assume (but have not verified) that the 10/22 is the top selling rimfire.
Name an online gunshop that has the market power to only support one kind of gun? STI, Glock, SIG, and Browning vendors and aftermarket companies come to mind, just to name a few.
The best selling rifle in America is the Remington Model 700. That was my guess a few weeks ago, and their advert. in NRA's American Hunter just proved it to me.
I'd narrow it down to the Toyota test as well, as I call it: still in the field rifles. 700s are everywhere, forever.
The best selling rifle in America is the Remington Model 700. That was my guess a few weeks ago, and their advert. in NRA's American Hunter just proved it to me.
I'd narrow it down to the Toyota test as well, as I call it: still in the field rifles. 700s are everywhere, forever.
fatcat4620
Member
Any one able to come up with any numbers yet?
A lot of factors are driving the rifle's popularity.Reliable,accurate,mild recoil,looks,very easy to customize,easy to service,the list is long and I know I didn't get it all.I was dead set against them,thought they wouldn't be accurate,so I stuck with bolt guns.When I decided I needed something to beat around in the tractor cab for the coyotes,I saw one for sale in one of the local newspapers.The guy let me put a few rounds through it,and when the first three rounds grouped inside 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards with a red dot sight,I handed him his money.I added a Leupold Mark AR,and what was supposed to be a beater rifle is now safely tucked away and gets shot a lot because it's just a damn fun rifle to shoot.Contempt prior to investigation...
I think people like them because they work. They were designed to chop up people and they do this very well. Also, there is something for just about any price range. Ammo is relativel cheap. There are lots of aftermarket addons and dodads. Simple manual of arms. I don't have one but I do have an AK.
el Godfather
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I like the smooth AR platform. I like the mild recoil of 223 in burst fire. Accuracy is great.
justice06rr
Member
For what its worth (maybe not much), "most produced" is is not the same as "best-selling".
Although the AR15 platform not be the most produced, there is no denying that is the most commonly used and probably best-selling (the Military and LEO agencies included) type of rifle. That is a matter of semantics though.
Although the AR15 platform not be the most produced, there is no denying that is the most commonly used and probably best-selling (the Military and LEO agencies included) type of rifle. That is a matter of semantics though.
fatcat4620
Member
So how we are including military and leo sales?
Because you can have the same gun everyone else has, while having a different gun than anyone else has!
Had one, sold it; had an AR-10 also, sold it. I guess they just aren't my "thing". I prefer the .223 and .308 rounds in a bolt-action format. YMMV!
Had one, sold it; had an AR-10 also, sold it. I guess they just aren't my "thing". I prefer the .223 and .308 rounds in a bolt-action format. YMMV!
JFtheGR8
Member
30Cal said:
^^^ This, I got one because I expect the ban to be reinstated and it's fun to shoot. I bought a stripped LRB lower from a local gun shop and ordered a Del-Ton rifle kit. I usually have 200 rounds on hand at any given time.
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