I am hearing more and more that folks who, in the past, never would have thought of purchasing an AR type rifle are now buying them. Older people. Revolver people. Traditional hunters. Even non-gun people. I just have to wonder how many AR style rifles and pistols are actually now in the hands of US citizens. Any guesses?
How many AR type rifles out there???
- Thread starter Skans
- Start date
I personally know of at least 5 acquaintances who have bought an AR15 this year who previously had no interest, maybe still don't, but bought it just in case. I know of a local businessman who bought 10 AR15s and $20K in ammo the day after SandyHook. It is all in a case in his safe room, never even opened the boxes. I have looked at some of the numbers from Industry and I agree the 6M is bogus, but I think the 30M might be a tad high.
I agree according to ATF stats ~ 20 million rifles manufactured from the Clinton ban til O'bummers first term and nearly another 20 million from 08 to 14 only need 15% of those to be EBRs to make 6 million sold since in that 20 year span.
That wouldn't include lowers, pistol ARs or 80%
Old Bill Dibble
New member
I am going to go with 15-20,000,000 but the numbers are probably much higher. Colt alone has made more than 200 different variants of the AR rifle.
Out of those I am guessing they are in the hands of 10,000,000 people more or less. If true that means that 3% of the people in the US own an AR rifle. That seems awfully low to me though. Practically everyone I know and work with owns at least one.
Out of those I am guessing they are in the hands of 10,000,000 people more or less. If true that means that 3% of the people in the US own an AR rifle. That seems awfully low to me though. Practically everyone I know and work with owns at least one.
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I'm thinking way more than anyone knows....
Probably impossible. If a person has three assembled lowers and six fully functional uppers; how many ARs do they own ?
2014 I started my AR journey. Like lots of people, I didn't want one for the longest time. I had lots of different reasons not to like them, none were realistic. Once I realized the versatility of them, I couldn't justify not owning one. Now I have a few.
Probably impossible. If a person has three assembled lowers and six fully functional uppers; how many ARs do they own ?
2014 I started my AR journey. Like lots of people, I didn't want one for the longest time. I had lots of different reasons not to like them, none were realistic. Once I realized the versatility of them, I couldn't justify not owning one. Now I have a few.
Old Bill Dibble
New member
Me and my math.... 
Gunplummer
New member
If you include potential parts stashes, a lot. There have been surplus parts available since the 70's. Where is it all?
Old Bill Dibble
New member
Not in my basement I swear.
Well the 2016 census has the US population at ~324 million 88% would be ~285 million. The ATF has manufacturing and import records right on there web sight that from 1986 (the first year they started keeping track) and 2014 (the last year they have published) there were ~200 guns put into circulation assuming that 2015 and 2016 are at least equal to 2014 that's at least another 25-30 million guns. That leaves me to believe they think there were only 55-60 million guns in private hands in 1985 ROTFLMAO
Old Bill Dibble
New member
Sounds about right. The murder rate is less than half of what it was during the time period. A lot more guns in private hands per person might partly help explain it.