Contrary to popular belief, America isn't the only country with a huge gun market. Civilians, law enforcement, and militaries around the world use firearms.
But this leads to an obvious question: what are the most common guns in America and also around the world? Well, that's what we're here to answer. Dive into the most used guns in the world with Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore.
The Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK) is, by far, the most popular firearm in the world for three reasons: simple design, reliable performance in harsh environments, and cheap manufacturing costs for mass production. This led to the AK-47 rifle being quickly adopted as the standard weapon in the Soviet Armed Forces in 1949. The vast majority of the countries that were part of the Warsaw Pact also adopted it.
Since then, its presence has spread. It's manufactured and readily available around the world, making it the weapon of choice for insurgencies short of the funds necessary for better weapons.
The AR-15 rifle is easily the most common gun in America. While it proved itself to be absurdly reliable during initial testing for the M16 (its military counterpart), that isn't the main reason it's so beloved. Its modular design allows shooters to build a gun with their preferred caliber, specs, and attachments. This has led to a massive industry of aftermarket AR-15 parts and accessories. With both the parts and ability to make your perfect gun, it's no surprise that AR-15s have become one of the most used guns in the world.
The SKS is a lightweight semi-automatic rifle that was built for the Soviet Armed Forces in the 1940s. While most Soviet military branches quickly replaced it with the AK-47 in the early 1950s, it was produced and exported to Soviet allies during the Cold War. This led to it becoming well-known by insurgents throughout the 20th century, and it remains very popular, with insurgents engaging in guerilla warfare today. A thriving US market for imported and domestic SKS rifles was born in the late 1980s. With so many diverse groups utilizing this rifle at both frontlines and gun ranges, it will never fade into obscurity.
It should be no surprise that the Mossberg 500 is one of the most used guns in the world. This pump-action shotgun's low cost and incredible reliability led to it being adopted by law enforcement and the U.S. military. However, a military-specific variant – the M590A1 – was necessary to meet MIL-SPEC requirements. The M590A1 is currently the standard shotgun of the U.S. military.
But it's not only one of the most common guns in America. Due to its widespread adoption by civilians, law enforcement, and the military, the Mossberg 500 has become the most-produced shotgun of all time.
The Remington Model 870 has been in continuous production since 1950 due to its popularity with competitive shooters, hunters, law enforcement, and military organizations worldwide. In fact, it was declared the most-produced shotgun of all time in 1983 until it was surpassed by the Mossberg 500. With so many produced, it clearly belongs on the list of the most used guns in the world.
After its debut in the IDF in 1954, the Uzi was exported to both military organizations and private security across the globe. Between the 1960s and 1980s, it was the most-sold submachine gun ever manufactured. As a result, it became a staple of the public image of special forces and appeared in countless action movies.
No list of the most used guns in the world would be complete without the Glock semi-auto handgun. These Austrian pistols are designed to be reliable, high-performance weapons that are easily maintained. While originally chambered in only 9mm Parabellum, it has gone on to be chambered in countless other calibers. Glock's adoption of American calibers has led to it also becoming one of the most common guns in America.
The Glock's repairability ended up having more of an impact on it, making it one of the most used guns in the world, than just easy maintenance. It was modular, allowing people to easily swap in parts as needed. Like with the AR-15, this has led to an entire industry for aftermarket parts production so shooters can customize their guns.
The Makarov pistol was developed for a 1949 competition to select the standard sidearm of the Soviet Armed Forces. It won, leading to it not only becoming the sidearm every Soviet soldier was equipped with but also exported to Soviet allies during the Cold War. Its reliability has led to it never being fully replaced in the modern Russian army, despite several attempts to do so. It remains in use across the world.
At Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore, we don't just teach you about the most used guns in the world. We offer them in our gun store. Since 2007, we've been offering guns for sale to shooters from all walks of life. You can find modern guns from brands like Glock and Mossberg and classic guns like lever-action rifles. If you have more questions about the most popular guns in America or the guns we offer, our in-house customer service team is always ready to help. Find what you need today at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore.
Mike Thompson is an avid outdoorsman and firearms enthusiast. With years of experience in hunting and shooting sports, he offers insights on gear reviews, safety tips, and hunting strategies. When he's not writing, you'll find him exploring new trails or honing his marksmanship.
