How many EBRs are there in the USA?

[Harvster]

Anyone know a ballpark figure for how many ar/ak and similar rifles there are presently in the country?(non military/LEO) I am wondering about this in terms of "in common use".

 

[Chipperman]

Literally Millions.

If that does not qualify as "common use", then neither should cell phones count as protected under 1A.

 

[Eyesac]

I'd like to know... I'll bet it's a big number.
Just about everyone I know with more than 2 or 3 rifles has one.

 

[camslam]

Not nearly enough. I need a few more myself.

 

[Drgong]

Actually, if I recall correctly, the "Assault Weapon" ban caused a lot of people to look at the EBR, and they LIKED it...

And caused a major upswing in the number of AR/AK type rifles to be produced or imported.

 

[Vegaslaith]

I would say at least 50 million civi-owned.

 

[Daryl Licht]

I'm doing my part to get the average up.

I got my first ones in '04, when there was some uncertainty whether the '94 AWB would be renewed or made worse. Drgong has it right, I LIKED them. Whether I would have developed the interest without the nonsense we got from the handwringers, I honestly cannot answer.

Thanks, VPC. You've opened a fascinating new area of firearms interest for me.

 

[benEzra]

Taking H.R.1022 as the operative definition (which includes the SKS, M1 carbine, Ruger Mini-14, etc.), I'd guesstimate 16-20 million, which is slightly more than the number of licensed hunters in the USA. And that's not even counting non-"AW" guns that have over-10-round capacities.

FWIW, AR-15 sales alone are running over a quarter million a year, and accelerating. It is demonstrably the most common centerfire target rifle and defensive carbine in the country, and so would pass any reasonable common-use test.

 

[Jimmie]

I can't answer your question, but based on the number of makers jumping on the bandwagon, it's gotta be an impressive number. Even Remington has joined the party! I heard Marlin has an AR-15 coming out in 30-30.

 

[wacki]

EBR = "scary blackish rifle"?

enhanced battle rifle?

 

[Jimmie]

evil black rifle

 

[chris in va]

Dozens.

 

[Bartkowski]

If I had to take an educated guess, I would have to say a lot. I really have no idea, I just know that there are millions.

 

[Claude Clay]

Z Beeblebrox was heard to say the number was 'huge, i mean really REALLY R E A L L Y HUGE.' but i dont remember which head he was talking out of.

 

[geekWithA.45]

The ATF keeps figures on rifles manufactured. The AR-15 has been #1 for the last hatful of years.

Also, there was something like 4 million AK type rifles sold in the months before the AWB took effect in 94. They were not purchased to be surrendered, a fact that did not escape notice.

EBRs are common as stones.

 

[Chipperman]

...and who's gonna throw the first stone when the time comes?

 

[gunNoob]

I fell in love with AKs the first time I saw one. They just look so good. I have 1 now and plan on getting a few more.

 

[nalioth]

There is no such thing as an "evil [any color] rifle".

There are only "evil [any color] people".

Don't play the word game.

 

[Smurfslayer]

about 6 figures...

for transferrables, several more pre & post '86 samples floating around too.

Or did you mean the "diet coke" of evil black rifles (DCo)EBR - semi auto versions?

 

[realmswalker]

just purchased my OLL yesterday so add one more, can't wait to build her

 

[RP88]

look at most gun shops' inventories. For every hunting rifle, there's one to two black rifles next to it.

Same goes for handguns when comparing revolvers to your norm of semi-autos--at least around here.