Sales data from the online firearm marketplace GunBroker.com were analyzed to identify the ten most popular rifles in America by 2023 sales volume, with supplemental ATF data on domestic manufacturing locations and 2021 production volume. Five of the ten rifles are bolt-action and four are lever-action, reflecting continued popularity of manually operated repeating actions among hunters and recreational shooters. Bolt- and lever-action designs predate semi-automatic rifles and remain common for hunting, sport, target shooting, and civilian use, while modern rifles also serve military and law enforcement roles. Online purchases require shipment to federally licensed dealers who conduct background checks, and estimated base prices can be as low as a few hundred dollars.
We can trace the history of rifles back to the 16th century when they were used by a very small number of people in Europe. Even into the 18th century, rifles were relatively uncommon, with smoothbore muskets dominating the battlefield. Widespread use of rifles didn't occur until around the 19th century, especially with the adoption of the Minié ball in the 1840s-50s. Today, modern rifles are used by the military and law enforcement, and by civilians for sport, target shooting, and hunting.
Rifles are ranked on sales volume in the 2023 calendar year, though exact sales figures were not provided. Supplemental data on domestic manufacturing locations and production volume in 2021 are from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Five of the 10 rifles on this list are bolt-action, and four are lever-action. Unlike MSRs and other semi-automatic weapons, these rifles have a repeating action that must be manually operated before each shot. Both lever- and bolt-action designs date back much further than semi-automatics and have long been popular with hunters and recreational shooters.
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