The US Firearms Industry Includes about 200 Companies with Combined Annual Revenue of $2 Billion

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2006--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c36203) has announced the addition of "Gun Manufacturing - Industry Profile" to their offering.

The US firearms industry includes about 200 companies with combined annual revenue of $2 billion. The largest gun manufacturers are Remington and Sturm Ruger. Other companies that manufacture more than 50,000 weapons annually are Marlin, Mossberg, Smith & Wesson, H&R, US Repeating Arms, Savage, Bryco, Beretta, and Beemiller. Remington and Winchester are also major manufacturers of ammunition.

The industry is highly concentrated: the five largest producers control 55 percent of the pistol market and 72 percent of the rifle market. Three manufacturers (Mossberg, H&R, and Remington) control 86 percent of the shotgun market, while just two (Smith & Wesson and Sturm Ruger) control 80 percent of the revolver market.

Demand, which has been flat for years, is partly driven by hunters and partly by weapons' upgrades by police departments. The profitability of individual companies is closely linked to volume because fixed costs are high. Small companies can compete effectively by producing high-quality or decorative guns that sell for a premium.

The industry produces about 3 million guns per year: 620,000 pistols; 320,000 revolvers; 1,300,000 rifles; and 700,000 shotguns. About 60,000 machine guns are made, principally for the government. Sturm Ruger is the only company with large sales in each of the four categories. Remington makes mainly rifles and shotguns; Smith & Wesson mainly pistols and revolvers; other companies specialize in one category.

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Companies mentioned:

-- Remington

-- Sturm Ruger

-- Marlin

-- Mossberg

-- Smith

-- Wesson

-- US Repeating Arms

-- Savage

-- Bryco

-- Beretta

-- Beemiller

-- Winchester

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c36203