Most popular handguns in the U.S. by Sales

[GarandTd]

Back before I was a gunaholic, people who were casual gun owners were watching videos of the Judge and all the different ammo it shot and what it did to watermelons, so it got an instant cool factor put on it.

I can attest to that. I remember seeing videos of it destroying melons before I, myself, fell victim to the firearm Siren's song.

[tipoc]

American Rifleman lets us know about the top 10 seller of pistols and revolvers.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/art...stols-of-2018/

https://www.americanrifleman.org/art...lvers-of-2018/

Top 10 revolvers new and used:*

1 Ruger GP 100, new
Colt Python, used

2. Heritage Arms Rough Rider, new
Ruger Blackhawk, used

3. S&W 642, new
S&W 10, used

4. Taurus Judge, new
S&W 29, used

5. S&W 629, new
S&W 629, used

6. Ruger LCR, new
S&W 36, used

7. Taurus 85, new
Colt SAA, used

8. Ruger SP 101, new
S&W 66, used

9. Uberti 73, new
S&W 686, used

10. Ruger Blackhawk, new
Ruger Vaquero, used

Now for the semis:

1. Sig P365 Nitron Micro Compact, new
Browning Hi-Power, used

2. Kel Tec PMR 30, new
Colt 1911, used

3. S&W M&P 9, new
Sig P 226

4. CZ 75, new

5. S&W M&P 9 Shield, new
Glock G 19, used

6. Glock 43, new
Sig P 229, used

7. Sig P 320, new
Walther PPK, used

8. Sig P938, new
Glock G 22, used

9. Ruger LCP, new
Sig P220, used

10. S&W Bodyguard 380, new
Ruger LCP, used

*Note some guns will show in in both new and used categories.

tipoc

[TruthTellers]

Looking at that list, I feel bad for Charter Arms. I'm not saying they make a fantastic revolver, but they do work, just nobody buys them.

I'm gonna start asking people at the range or in gun stores if they do or have previously owned a PMR-30. Given how most gun people around me are old guys, they'll probably mumble something negative about polymer and go on to talk about how their steel 1911 is the only handgun worth buying.

[Cheapshooter]

^
Hey, I'm old, and have a bunch of "fantastic plastic". Including a PMR30, and others on the list.

[darkgael]

I am 72 years old. Own two 1911s. Own a Glock. Just bought a PMR 30 two weeks ago. Lots of fun. So far, it has been reliable. KelTec recommends using only higher powered .22 magnums. I have been using CCI Maxi-mag 40 gr. and 30 gr.

[tipoc]

Charter Arms does well on sales. No where close to the big dogs but they remain a factor and pay their rent.

Remember that most of the info here is drawn from GunBroker which is a limited source. It doesn't include any other auction sites, gun store sales or gun shows. So it's only a rough idea. Probably not too far off the actual mark though.

tipoc

[TruthTellers]

^ They may do enough business to stay open and create a few new things a year, but fact is the only place I see Charter revolvers is gun shows. I've never seen any Charter's in a physical gun store.

You can't sell to people buying on impulse if it's not in front of them.

[tipoc]

Don't know what to tell ya.

About half the Gunatoriums out by me carry them, Charter Arms revolvers, at least a few models.

CZ shows up on these lists only once and they sell a good many guns and are popular.

tipoc

[pete2]

I guess I'm out of touch, I was surprised that the SIGs were that popular. Never had a desire for either one.

[kenny53]

My favorite Gun store/range (Red Dot Firearms, Layton UT) has Charter Arms in the display case. I never liked the trigger on the ones I looked at.

[Cheapshooter]

Bought my Charter Arms Bulldog from the old Gander Mountain. They had several other offerings as well. I see them in a local large farm supply in my area. Rural King sells them as well. So does Farm & Home Supply. Cabela's also sells them. Maybe it's just some of the smaller shops. Could it be the profit margin isn't there on smaller numbers of sales?

[Cheapshooter]

I won't quote the entire artical, but here is another list. It shares many on the "most popular" list. But there might be a couple surprises.
https://thewellarmedwoman.com/about-...Jp5_cJquFUBMWk

[TruthTellers]

Originally Posted by Cheapshooter

Bought my Charter Arms Bulldog from the old Gander Mountain. They had several other offerings as well. I see them in a local large farm supply in my area. Rural King sells them as well. So does Farm & Home Supply. Cabela's also sells them. Maybe it's just some of the smaller shops. Could it be the profit margin isn't there on smaller numbers of sales?

I'm thinking, seeing the replies and locations where people are from, it's more to do with what people can afford in those places. I'm in New England, revolver buyers here are diehard S&W and Ruger fans and have the money to afford them. People in Utah and Missouri probably don't make as much money and can't be buying those brands at $500 for a snub J frame/LCR size, $650 for a L/GP100 frame.

I made a comment to my LGS about Charter revolvers and he said they don't sell, people just aren't interested in them.

[Cheapshooter]

They sell plenty of Smiths and Rugers in Missouri. Along with Kimbers, Sigs, and about every other brand. Sell lots of Rough Riders, Kel Tecs, and Hi Points as well.

[TruthTellers]

Ah, well, maybe it's more people are gun smart in those places among other things compared to the average Northerner.

[Cheapshooter]

it could depend on what part of New England. With a diversity of the toughest gun laws to the most lenient. Maybe if it is very hard to buy a firearm, some people would rather have one that is of heirloom quality rather than more utilitarian.

[sigarms228]

It is really hard to compile an accurate list because of all the SKUs involved. There must be at least a dozen variations of the Glock 19 for sale as an example.

[Gungnir]

I actually though that the PMR-30 was a failed product that never got off the ground, but they must have fixed the multiple problems it had or else a terrible lot of people are buying it and never take it shooting.

[imp]

Originally Posted by USNRet93
Yikes, I get the LCP is keen to carry but geez terrible to shoot...cheap, I guess. Aren’t gonna put 2000 rounds thru it anytime soon, unless your last name is de Sade

I think if the Marquee were to fetishize the LCP, it would be to watch the pain of someone else having to fire 2,000 rounds through it.

[tipoc]

From Cheepshooter:

I won't quote the entire artical, but here is another list. It shares many on the "most popular" list. But there might be a couple surprises.
https://thewellarmedwoman.com/about-...Jp5_cJquFUBMWk

Top Guns for Women

I like that article so here from least popular to most:

10. Sig P938

9.Springfield XDS 9mm

8. Glock 42 .380

7. Ruger LCP 380

6. Ruger LC9S

5. Sig P365 9mm

4. Tie: S&W .380 EZ Shield, Sig P238

3. Glock 19

2. S&W Shield 9mm (occupied 1st place for several years)

1. Glock 43

The article also lists the #11-20.

https://thewellarmedwoman.com/about-...Jp5_cJquFUBMWk

"SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
I just love seeing the manufacturers “listening” to women (and all of their customers) and constantly pushing the engineering and design envelopes to satisfy the wants and needs of their consumers. The result? Dozens of options that allow each individual to find the best possible fit for their personal defense partner.

What About Revolvers?
Once again there were no revolvers in the top 10 and in fact, a revolver didn’t show up on the list until the #17 spot. This data truly dispels the myth that women “need” or “should” have a revolver. Of course, revolvers are an excellent choice for many women, so don’t misunderstand or misinterpret this data to believe revolvers are not valued or don’t have a place with the woman shooter. In fact, if I look at the total number of revolvers purchased (Not by brand) they would have been equivalent in number to the 5thplace spot on the list. Revolvers are best for use in a concealed carry purse and for many with weak hands unable to rack a slide on a semi-automatic pistol, they are a godsend.

Other Favorite Guns of Women
Seven of the 11 top guns purchased by women listed above are 9mm and four of them are .380 which has been the pattern the last few years. Interestingly, 4.5% of all guns purchased were .22’s. The overwhelming majority were Ruger Mark IV’s, SR22’s and Browning Buckmark’s. There was also an impressive number of larger guns also purchased by women this year. I noted it last year but the number keeps increasing. The HK VP9 and Walther PPQ were hugely popular. Larger GLOCK’s, Sig’s, Berettas, CZ’s, and 1911’s were prominent as well. As I mentioned above, previous survey showed that the average number of guns personally owned by women was 5.6. Women are clearly buying guns to fill a variety of self-defense, training and recreational activities. So if you are of the mindset that all women want are small guns, think again!

THE #11 – #20 TOP FINISHERS
#11 – Sig Sauer P320

#12 – Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380

#13 – Tie – Smith & Wesson 9 Shield M2.0

#13 – Kimber Micro 9mm

#14 – HK VP9

#15 – Ruger LCPII

#16 – Walther PPQ

#17 – Ruger LCR

#18 – Walther CCP

#19 – Ruger EC9

#20 – Tie – Ruger SR9c

#20 – Springfield Armory 911 .380"

[USNRet93]

LCP more popular than Glock 42... women must be gettin tougher these days. The LCP and LC9 firmly in the ‘snappy to not comfy’ range, imho. Must be the size.

[tipoc]

One of the things that also surprises me some is how many 44 Mags regularly sell and make the lists.

tipoc

[TruthTellers]

Originally Posted by tipoc

One of the things that also surprises me some is how many 44 Mags regularly sell and make the lists.

tipoc

It's consistently shown in movies, tv, and games, so while .500 Mag may be more powerful, it's not as common and what's common is what's popular and what's popular is most common.

When I look at handgun calibers, the only ones that were popular that are all but obsolete now are the .32-20, .44-40, and others with a dash in the middle.

OTOH, the only cartridge that was not popular for the longest time that appears to be changing is 10mm.

[Skans]

"PMR30? Really? I find that really hard to believe. I don't even see them in most gun shops."

I thought the same thing. They are an odd novelty at best. I only see them at gun shows, and not all that much interest in them either.

[ballardw]

Originally Posted by tipoc

The PMR-30 surprises me as well. Novelty factor? Most of the info comes from Gunbroker so maybe some dealer to dealer quirky thing going on after it's introduction.

tipoc

Perhaps the Gunbroker "popular" metric includes numbers of searches, not actual sales.
Another metric influence might be number of sold divided by number offered.