This Is the Largest Gunmaker in Arizona

The United States is the single largest civilian firearm market in the world. A recent Gallup poll found that 45% of Americans have a gun in their home. And many of those households have more than one, as the U.S. is the only country with more privately-owned guns than people.

Whether for hunting, target shooting, personal protection, or home defense, consumer demand for firearms in the U.S. fuels a $32.1 billion a year industry. And across the country, companies are cashing in. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives reported that over 13.3 million firearms were manufactured in the U.S. for the domestic market in 2021. (Here is a look at which Americans own the most guns: a survey of all 50 states.)

According to the ATF, there are more than 3,200 federally licensed firearm production plants in the U.S., and 192 of them are operating in Arizona. Between them, a total of 699,100 firearms were manufactured in the state in 2021.

No company made more firearms in Arizona that year than Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. Through a production facility in Prescott, the company produced a reported 603,500 guns – or 86.3% of all firearms made in the state in 2021.