Gun & Ammunition Manufacturing Industry Profile

Companies in this industry manufacture small arms and ammunition. Major companies include American Outdoor Brands, Colt, Remington Outdoor, and Vista Outdoor (all based in the US), as well as Beretta (Italy), FN Herstal (Belgium), Glock (Austria), Heckler & Koch (Germany), Kontsern Kalashnikov (Russia), Norinco (China), and Taurus Armas (Brazil).

International trade of small arms, parts, accessories, and ammunition involving leading exporters and importers is estimated to be worth about $7 billion per year, according to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). Ukraine is the largest importers of small arms while the US is the largest exporter of small arms, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The US gun and ammunition manufacturing industry includes about 600 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $10 billion.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven partly by hunters, gun enthusiasts, and weapon upgrades by police departments. The profitability of individual companies is closely linked to marketing. Large companies have economies of scale in purchasing. Small companies can compete effectively by producing premium-priced high-quality or decorative guns. The industry is highly concentrated: the top 50 companies account for over 90% of revenue.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Centerfire pistols cartridges take up a major part US industry revenue (about 20%) followed by rimfire rifle/pistol cartridges (less than 10%), shotgun shells (less than 10%), and primers (less than 10%) account for the remainder. The US ...