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
1. Heritage Manufacturing, Inc.
- .22 caliber handguns manufactured domestically: 491,882
- Share of all US-made .22 handguns: 32.4%
- Popular .22 handgun model(s): Barkeep, Rough Rider
- >.22 handgun US manufacturing location(s): Bainbridge, GA
- Total domestic firearm production: 505,601
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