This Classic .22 Pistol Brings the Wild West Back to Life

As a nation obsessed with the cowboy lifestyle, it won’t be surprising to learn that the .22 caliber bullet remains popular. With its minimal recoil and inexpensive price tag, there is plenty of room to argue that the .22 caliber will continue to be a favorite among gun owners in the future who don’t feel they need any more firepower for self-defense, hunting, or collecting.

What Makes the .22 Caliber So Popular?

One of the biggest reasons the .22 caliber handgun is so popular and has seen such explosive growth is affordability. As a handgun requiring a smaller ownership cost than larger caliber weapons, there is no question this has played a big role in the .22’s popularity. The same can be said for its unique cases where you don’t want a larger caliber bullet, like small game hunting and pest control.

Why Is .22 So Popular?

.22 LR is among the most popular calibers, thanks to various factors. I've mentioned the lower cost and softer felt recoil. However, that general affordability also applies to the firearms in most cases. For many beginning shooters, it affords them a quality firearm on which they can learn the fundamentals.

Is .22 Good for Hunting?

You certainly won't take a deer with a .22 LR. However, plenty of varmints are no match for this popular rimfire cartridge. Many people use this old, reliable caliber for plinking and hunting alike, which has helped it maintain a position as one of the most popular calibers in the country.

22. Henry Repeating Arms Company

.22 cal. handguns manufactured domestically in 2022: 2,176 (99.8% pistols, 0.2% revolvers)
Popular .22 handgun model(s): Mare’s Leg
Henry RAC .22 handgun manufacturing location(s): New Jersey and Wisconsin
Henry RAC total domestic firearm production in 2022: 365,867 (0.6% .22 handguns)

21. Bond Arms, Inc

.22 cal. handguns manufactured domestically in 2022: 2,630 (100% pistols, 0% revolvers)
Popular .22 handgun model(s): Honey B, Stubby, Stinger, BP22
Bond Arms .22 handgun manufacturing location(s): Texas
Bond Arms total domestic firearm production in 2022: 52,104 (5.0% .22 handguns)

20. Patriot Ordnance Factory Inc.

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 2,900
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 0.2%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): PSG
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Phoenix, AZ
Total domestic firearm production: 21,019

19. Volquartsen Firearms Inc.

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 2,936
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 0.2%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): Black Mamba, Classic, ENV, Scorpion
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Carroll, IA
Total domestic firearm production: 6,858

18. Outdoor Colors LLC

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 5,332
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 0.4%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): N/A
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Rutherfordton, NC
Total domestic firearm production: 18,571

17. Tippmann Arms Company LLC

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 5,599
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 0.4%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): M4-22 PRO, M4-22 Elite
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Fort Wayne, IN
Total domestic firearm production: 15,113

16. Bearman Industries, LLC

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 8,869
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 0.6%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): CL22LBP
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Bear River City, UT
Total domestic firearm production: 37,619

15. Diamondback Firearms LLC

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 11,063
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 0.7%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): Sidekick, Birdshead Sidekick, DBX
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Cocoa, FL
Total domestic firearm production: 163,195

14. Standard Manufacturing Co. LLC

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 11,208
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 0.7%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): SG22, JK-L, S333 Thunderstruck Gen III
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): New Britain, CT
Total domestic firearm production: 26,630

13. IWI US Inc.

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 12,733
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 0.8%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): Galil ACE
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Middletown, PA
Total domestic firearm production: 96,662

12. Beretta USA Corp

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 14,103
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 0.9%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): M9 .22LR, M9A1 .22, 92FSR .22
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Gallatin, TN
Total domestic firearm production: 155,352

11. Trailblazer Firearms LLC

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 16,900
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 1.1%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): Lifecard
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Fletcher, NC
Total domestic firearm production: 16,900

10. Phoenix Arms

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 18,900
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 1.2%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): HP22A
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Ontario, CA
Total domestic firearm production: 20,200

9. Radical Firearms LLC

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 23,105
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 1.5%
Popular .22 handgun model(s):
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Stafford, TX
Total domestic firearm production: 126,040

8. Browning Arms Company

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 35,591
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 2.3%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): Buck Mark, 1911-22 Black Label
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Morgan, UT
Total domestic firearm production: 44,494

7. North American Arms Inc.

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 57,142
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 3.8%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): NAA-22LR
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Provo, UT
Total domestic firearm production: 57,836

6. Glock Inc.

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 63,569
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 4.2%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): G44
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Smyrna, GA
Total domestic firearm production: 581,944

5. Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 89,995
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 5.9%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): TAURUSTX 22, TAURUS 942
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Bainbridge, GA
Total domestic firearm production: 290,780

4. Kel Tec CNC Industries Inc.

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 98,200
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 6.5%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): CP33, PMR30, PLR22
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Cocoa, FL
Total domestic firearm production: 215,804

3. Smith & Wesson

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 105,199
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 6.9%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): M&P 22 Compact, Model 41, SW22 Victory, Model 617, Model 63
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Columbia, MO, Springfield, MA
Total domestic firearm production: 2,317,792

2. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.

.22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 422,860
Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 27.8%
Popular .22 handgun model(s): Mark IV, SR22, LCP II
>.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Newport, NH, Prescott, AZ, Mayodan, NC, Southport, CT
Total domestic firearm production: 2,078,013