In this article, we will discuss the 15 biggest gun and ammunition companies in the world, if you want to skip our analysis of the defense equipment industry, you can skip this article and head on to the 5 Biggest Gun Companies in the World.
Guns are considered a vital for self-defense in various countries, and the gun industry has continued to grow in recent times. About 18.8 million firearms were sold alone in the United States in 2021, and the industry contributed approximately $51.3 billion to the US GDP.
Due to their ease of carrying and affordability, the most common type of firearm used around the world is a pistol, and it constituted 43.4% of the total guns produced in the United States in 2021. The gun industry is under a period of steady growth, and according to research, the international small arms industry is expected to grow to $13.75 billion by 2030. Hence in this article, we will discuss some of the biggest gun companies in the world.
We have picked the top 15 biggest gun companies in the world and have ranked them from #15 to #1 in order of their annual revenue during 2021.
Biggest Gun Companies In the World
15. Barrett Firearms
2021 annual revenue: $13.0 million
Headquarters in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Barrett Firearms is a private family-owned firm producing long-range and large-caliber precision rifles. The company operates in over 70 countries around the world, selling its products to law enforcement organizations, sports shooters, and individuals for self-defense purposes. Some of the company's most popular firearms include Barrett M95, Barrett M107A1, and Barrett XM109.
Barrett Firearms was recently awarded a contract by the United States Army. The contract is worth $49.9 million, and under its terms, the company is set to provide MRAD? (Multi-Role Adaptive Design) MK22? MOD 0 rifle, along with a sniper-accessory kit and Stevens Mark 5 HD, to the U.S army.
In addition to Barrett Firearms, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:SWBI), Sportsman's Warehouse Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPWH), and Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE:VSTO) are included in our list of 15 biggest gun companies in the world.
14. Sig Sauer
2021 annual revenue: $31.0 million
Established in 1976, SIG Sauer is a relatively new company compared to some other gun companies on our list. However, it has grown to become a leading manufacturer of firearms. The company is ISO 9001 certified and employs over 1,200 people.
Sig Sauer posted revenue of $31.0 million in 2021. Some of the company's top-selling products include P210 Target, P229 Nitron Compact, M11-A1 Compact, P226 XFIVE, and SIGM400. The company's P365-XMACRO was recently awarded the "Best New Handgun" in the 2022 Caliber Awards.
Based in Retail Scottsdale, Arizona, AMMO, Inc. (NASDAQ:POWW) is a designer and manufacturer of innovative firearms. The company has two business segments: gunbroker.com and the manufacturing side. AMMO, Inc. (NASDAQ:POWW) acquired GunBroker.com in 2021, which is now a leading online marketplace for purchasing ammunition and shooting equipment in the US. The company continues to innovate to grow its revenue and has recorded substantial growth in its topline over the past several years. From the fiscal year 2018 to 2022, the company's revenue increased from $2 million to $225 million due to the strong demand for its products and an increase in the range of its proprietary product offerings. AMMO, Inc. (NASDAQ:POWW) is a relatively small player in the industry compared to its peers, which means that there is still plenty of room for growth for the company.
Recently, the company inaugurated a new state-of-the-art 185,000 sq. ft. plant in Wisconsin, which offers a wide range of testing facilities with best-in-class testing equipment. The plant consists of several firing lanes, each of which differs in pressure and speed, and is equipped with precision measuring systems. The company has the capacity to test normal and armor-piercing ammunition up to 0.50 BMG out to 200 meters under tightly regulated and continually monitored environmental conditions.
As per Insider Monkey database, Skylands Capital remained the biggest holder of the stock with an investment value of approximately $2.6 million in the company at the end of Q2 2022.
14. Springfield Armory, Inc.
2021 annual revenue: $63.9 million
Established in 1974, Springfield Armory, Inc. has grown into a leading manufacturer of firearms. The company's products have become increasingly popular among law enforcement agencies, civilians, and the military. The company primarily markets and sells rifles and pistols, with its most popular product offering being the Hellion Rifle, Hellcat micro-compact handguns, Springfield Armory M6 Scout, and Saint AR-15 Rifles. Springfield Armory, Inc. posted revenue of $63.9 million in 2021, employing 103 people.
11. Savage Arms
2021 annual revenue: $106.4 million
Headquartered in Westfield, United States, Savage Arms has been in operation since 1894. With 150 employees, the company specializes in manufacturing firearms, including shotguns and rifles. The company sells its products primarily in the United States and Canada. Savage Arms manufactures weapons for both hunters and ordinary citizens. Some of the company's popular products include 11 Lady Hunter, 110 Apex Hunter XP, 110 Lightweight Storm, and 320 Security Ghost Ring. In 2021, Savage Arms posted revenue of $106.4 million.
10. O.F. Mossberg & Sons
2021 annual revenue: $160.0 million
O.F. Mossberg & Sons has been a pioneer in providing cutting-edge designs to the weapon industry since its establishment in 1919. The current CEO of the company, Alan Iver Mossberg, Jr., is the great-grandson of the founder Oscar F. Mossberg, and in 2019 the company released the MC1sc pistol to commemorate the 100th anniversary of O.F. Mossberg & Sons. The company employs 500 people and recorded a revenue of $160.0 million in 2021.
O.F. Mossberg & Sons has a global customer base and offers its products to both the domestic and international market. O.F. Mossberg & Sons's products are renowned for their unique designs and leading technology, and some of the company's popular weapons include the 940 Pro Field Shotgun, 940 Pro Waterfowl Shotgun, MVP Patrol Rifle, and Mossberg Patriot Predator Rifle. Earlier In October, O.F. Mossberg & Sons's new shotgun, The Mossberg 940, won the best shotgun award in the 2022 Caliber Awards.
9. Colt's Manufacturing Company
2021 annual revenue: $270.9 million
Headquartered in West Hartford, Colt's Manufacturing Company was founded in 1836 and has expanded its footprint globally ever since. Employing approximately 811 people, the company currently has a manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic and in the United States. Colt is considered the leading supplier to the US Army, supplying pistols, revolvers, and self-defense goods. Some of the company's widely selling products include Custom Carry Limited (9MM), M4 Carbine, 1911 Classic (45ACP), and M203 Grenade Launcher. Colt's Manufacturing reported revenue of $270.9 million in 2021.
American Outdoor Brands, Inc. was created in 2020 as a result of a spin-off by Smith & Wesson firearms. Headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, the company sells items and accessories for hunting, fishing, camping, shooting, and personal protection. The company's sales increased significantly by 59.7% in 2021 due to strong demand for its products, as customers' appetite for outdoor activities increased after COVID-19 lockdowns. Some of the company's famous gun brands are Caldwell, Frankford Arsenal, Wheeler, and Tipton.
American Outdoor Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:AOUT) stock is down 55.19% YTD as of November 06, 2022, and recently the management approved a share purchase program of $10 million which will run through September 2023.
7. Heckler and Koch
2021 annual revenue: €290.2 million
Founded in 1949, Heckler & Koch has been a major producer of light weapons for law enforcement and military forces across the globe. The company has operations in France, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom. In addition to being a leading supplier to NATO, the company also offers its products to the sports and commercial market. The company's leading products include MP5 .22 LR Pistol, SP5L, HK 43, VP9 Match, and M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle.
Heckler and Koch posted revenue of €290.2 million in 2021, up 5.45% from €275 million in 2020. The company has been able to increase its revenue by 6.5% during the past four quarters.
Incorporated in 1969, Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE:RGR) is an American company whose principal business is firearm manufacturing. The company's two primary brands are Ruger and Marlin, under which it holds a diverse product portfolio of 40 product lines serving three key product categories, namely rifles, revolvers, and pistols, alongside other firearm accessories. The company's manufacturing facilities are situated in the US, whereby it employs a distribution network of independent wholesalers, offering a major chunk of its products to the commercial sporting market.
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE:RGR) is one of the biggest producers of pistols in the United States and is one of the three companies responsible for ~60% of production in the country. The company has an established brand, and the sales have been increasing consistently, with sales of $410.5 million, $568.9 million, and $730.7 million in FY19, FY20, and FY21, respectively.
Renaissance Technologies remained the leading stakeholder of the company at the end of the second quarter of 2022, according to Insider Monkey database.