Top Selling Guns | August 2023

GunBroker.com’s monthly snapshot of the best-selling guns gives a clear picture regarding what hunters and shooters are looking for in their next firearm, and oftentimes we focus on the individual manufacturer or platform. This month we’re taking a slightly different approach, focusing instead on features that have become popular on the best-selling guns. One trend in particular is toward threaded muzzles that allow shooters to add a muzzle device to their firearm.

In this month’s GunBroker.com Top Selling Report, presented by GunGenius.com, the top-selling bolt-action rifles are (in order) Browning’s X-Bolt, Remington’s Model 700, Savage 10/110 rifles, Ruger’s American Rifle, and Tikka’s T3. All these guns utilize slightly different trigger and action designs, but one thing they all have in common is that they are threaded for suppressors. Browning’s current line of X-Bolt rifles, for instance, contains 27 different models, 23 of which come with threaded muzzles and brakes. Remington’s collection of Model 700 rifles continue to grow, and while some of the classic models like the ADL, BDL, and CDL don’t come with threaded muzzles their new flagship their new Alpha I flagship rifle is threaded. Well over half of the new Savage 110 offerings come with threaded muzzles, and the case is the same with Ruger’s American Rifle and the Tikka.

It’s not just bolt-action rifles that come with threaded muzzles, either. Four of this month’s five best-selling semiauto rifles (the Ruger 10/22, Springfield M1A, FN SCAR, and SIG Sauer MCX) either come standard with threaded muzzles and muzzle devices or are available with threaded muzzle options. Even Marlin’s Model 1895 and Henry’s Big Boy—both of which are among the five best-selling lever guns this month—offer threaded barrels or threaded barrel models.

This trend isn’t just limited to rifles, either. The Glock G19, SIG Sauer P320, and Beretta Model 90 pistols all offer threaded barrel models or are supported by a long list of aftermarket barrels. The other two pistols that round out this month’s top-selling semiautos—the SIG P365 and Glock G43—have aftermarket threaded barrel options, too.

The Silent Majority

What these numbers show us is quite clear: consumers want threaded barrels. Many owners may not swap out the muzzle devices that are already included with their rifles, but rifle and handgun manufacturers see the benefit in offering guns that are threaded. Even shooters and hunters that don't own a silencer (aka suppressor) want a gun that is capable of accepting a muzzle device down the road.

There really aren't too many reasons left not to own a silencer, though, and each year many new shooters add a can to their firearm. One company that has made suppressor buying easier and offers a full selection of cans for everything from belt-fed autos to personal defense handguns is Silencer Shop. Founded in 2010, Silencer Shop was one of the original silencer distributors that also helped simplify and explain the suppressor-buying process. One of the primary reasons why shooters and hunters don't use suppressors is that they are overwhelmed by the process. Extensive paperwork and questions about tax stamps and trusts have long been barriers to silencer ownership, but Silencer Shop has made suppressor buying easier by supporting customers with a knowledgeable, friendly staff. They've made the buying process simple, and you can even add items like tax stamps, fingerprint cards, and trusts to your cart online, streamlining ownership.

Once shooters begin to understand the process (and realize that, with the help of the professionals at Silencer Shop, it's not as daunting as it seems) they begin to realize that there are suppressors for virtually every type of rimfire and centerfire gun available today. In fact, they offer over 50 rimfire silencers alone that are perfect for plinking or small game hunting. They also offer a broad selection of 5.56 and 7.62 silencers as well as big bore silencers and specialty cans from a variety of manufacturers.

Why Shoot Suppressed?

Even if you're new to the silencer market, you probably understand the primary benefit of owning a silencer—noise reduction. Shooters are at much greater risk for hearing loss as unsuppressed gunshots well exceed the OSHA hearing safe threshold of 140dB. Carrying earplugs can be a hassle, and custom electronic hearing protection may cost as much as a suppressor or even more. protective muffs are a simple and economical solution, but you must remember to bring them to the range if they are to be effective. On more than one occasion my hearing protection has shifted when I placed my face on the stock of a rifle exposing me to a level of noise that can instantly damage hearing. Silencers solve this, and that's why so many shooters are turning to Silencers.

Noise reduction is just one reason to add a silencer to your firearm. In many areas it's legal to shoot unsuppressed, but I know of multiple occasions where a shooter had to deal with an upset neighbor or the police because of complaints. That's a pain, but suppression generally fixes the issue. Hunters also routinely use suppressors to eliminate spooking game with unsuppressed gunfire.

Many shooters don't truly appreciate how much a suppressor can improve accuracy. In addition to the added forward weight of a silencer (which alone can cut recoil by up to 20%) the reduced muzzle blast helps enhance accuracy. Flinching and other issues have long been blamed on recoil alone, and while heavy recoil does play a role in flinching the problem can also arise because the body is anticipating loud and painful noise levels.

It's clear that more shooters than ever are beginning to understand these benefits and take advantage of all that silencers have to offer. And that's not likely to change. In fact, I suspect that within the next decade it will be rare to find and rifle or handgun barrel that isn't threaded. The evidence shows that the revolution toward shooting suppressed is already well underway.

Top Selling Guns Sold in August 2023

Source: gungenius.com/top-selling/

To learn more or shop for any of the guns listed, visit Gun Genius at www.gungenius.com/top-selling.

Editor's note: In the report, guns are rated from one to five within each category, with the number one gun being the most popular that month. The numbers are color-coded to show any changes in the ranks from the previous report.

Black = Steady
Green = Up
Red = Down

Source: gungenius.com/top-selling/

To learn more or shop for any of the guns listed, visit Gun Genius at www.gungenius.com/top-selling.