Estimating AR-15 Production, 1964-2017
Version 1.0
Created 9 November 2019

This page is an effort to assemble a comprehensive estimate of just how many AR pattern rifles have been built in the US since it first became commercially available in 1964.

Bibliography:
Gun Digest, 1992
Serial Number List :: (Rev 10 – 2/13/99) via AR15.com (LINK)
Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices, 2013
http://retroblackrifle.com/
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/non-colt-ar-15s-when-did-it-all-start-old-timers-chime-in.828948/
https://ar15tactical.com/ar15-technical/preban-ar15-information-resources/

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Annual Firearms Manufacturing And Export Reports (AFMER)

1998-2017 AFMER Reports (5.85~ MB ZIP) grouped into a single ZIP file for rapid downloading; with individual AFMER reports below:

1998 AFMER Report
1999 AFMER Report
2000 AFMER Report
2001 AFMER Report
2002 AFMER Report
2003 AFMER Report
2004 AFMER Report
2005 AFMER Report
2006 AFMER Report
2007 AFMER Report
2008 AFMER Report
2009 AFMER Report
2010 AFMER Report
2011 AFMER Report
2012 AFMER Report
2013 AFMER Report
2014 AFMER Report
2015 AFMER Report
2016 AFMER Report
2017 AFMER Report

NOTE: The Excel File with Spreadsheet/Raw Data used for calculating some of the tables on this webpage is available HERE (24~ kb XLSX file)

The Early Years (1963-1994)

Ironically, because of the Brady Crime Bill which instituted a ten year ban of assault weapons, we have somewhat precise numbers on how many AR-pattern rifles were manufactured in this prehistoric era of the 'Black Rifle', because anything that was made before September 13, 1994 was considered “pre-ban” and could have all of the features otherwise banned under the Brady Bill.

Thus, people made serial number lists to ascertain whether something was pre- or post-ban.

Colt is the Only Game in Town (1964-1977)

In those early years of the Black Rifle, Colt was the only manufacturer; with civilian sales starting in 1964 at Serial SP00101. (1963's pre-production – SP00001 to SP00023 – were given to friends of the company and official people. – LINK). Below is a table of rough production numbers for the first 19 years of the 'Black Rifle', to give you an idea of how well it sold.

Colt Sporter (AR-15 SP1) The First Nineteen Years (1963-1981) This design was based largely on the original “A1” model.
YEAR	Serial # Start At Beginning of Year	Serial # End (if partial year of production)	# Produced
1963	SP00001	SP00023	22
1964	SP00101	Full Year	2,399
1965	SP02501	Full Year	3,098
1966	SP05600	Full Year	2,649
1967	SP08250	Full Year	2,499
1968	SP10750	Full Year	3,249
1969	SP14000	SP14653	653
1970	SP15001	SP15473	472
1971	SP16001	Full Year	3,399
1972	SP19401	Full Year	4,799
1973	SP24201	Full Year	8,399
1974	SP32601	Full Year	11,199
1975	SP43801	Full Year	11,499
1976	SP55301	Full Year	12,349
1977	SP67651	Full Year	15,748
1978	SP83400	Full Year	13,000
1979	SP96401	Full Year	16,399
1980	SP112801	Full Year	21,799
1981	SP134601	Full Year	23,599
Total (1963-1981)			157,230
NOTES: The serial numbers listed, except for 1963, 1969, 1970, are the serial number at the first of the year. NOTE II: The 1969-1970 downturn (highlighted in purple) in production numbers is due to Colt withdrawing the AR-15 from the market temporarily to fix the "hammer follow-down" issue (the gun could fire full-automatically -- erratically -- if the disconnector was removed). Source: http://pullig.dyndns.org/retroblackrifle/ModGde/SP1SN.html

And here is the list of pre-ban serials for Colts as of September 1994:

Colt “Pre-Ban” Serials 1963-1994
Serial Series	Highest Number
CC (Colt Carbine) Colt Model 6520 AR-15A2 Government Model Carbine (1988-) This prefix was used I think on the first 1,600~ rifles only, before they switched to using GC (Government Carbine).	1,616
NL (Sporter Lightweight) Colt Model 6430 9mm Sporter Lightweight I think this prefix was used only for a short period before switching to SL (Sporter Lightweight)	4,800
TA (9mm Versions) Colt Model 6430 9mm Sporter Lightweight Colt Model 6450 AR-15 9mm Carbine	10,100
CH (Competition HBAR) Colt Model 6700 Sporter Competition H-BAR (1992-) Colt Model 6700CH Sporter Competition H-BAR Select with 3x9 Scope. Colt Model 6700C Match Target Competition H-BAR Compensated	19,500
SL (Sporter Lightweight) Colt Model 6530 Sporter Lightweight Carbine (5.56)	27,284
BD (AR15A3 Tactical Carbine) Colt Model 6721 AR-15 Tactical Carbine (only 134 made before ban)	134
GS (Government Model Service) Colt Model 6550 AR-15A2 Government Model (1988-1990) Colt Model 6550K AR-15A2 Government Model (no bayonet lug, incl. .22LR conv. kit) Colt Model 6550CC AR-15A2 Government Model (“Factory Camouflage Finish”) Production of these rifles ended in 1990 and thus the entire production run is pre-ban. The highest serial number known to be in the wild is GS 0092xx.	9,200 (at least)
GC (Government Carbine) Colt Model 6520 AR-15A2 Government Model Carbine (1988-)	18,500
SP (Sporter) Colt Model 6000 AR-15 Sporter (1964-1985) Colt Model 6001 AR-15 Sporter (1978-1985) (Coll. Stock and 16” Barrel) Colt Model 6002 AR-15 Sporter (6000 with 3x Scope) Colt Model 6003 AR-15 Sporter (6001 with 3x Scope) Colt Model 6004 AR-15 Sporter (6000 with Tascorama Scope) Colt Model 6007 AR-15 Sporter (Early 80s) (6000 in electroless nickel finish) Colt Model 6010 AR-15 Sporter (SP1 in .222 REM for countries that ban mil. calibers) Colt Model 6500 AR-15A2 Sporter II (1984 - ) Colt Model 6420 AR-15 Carbine (1985-1987) (16” Barrel) Colt Model 6600 AR-15A2 H-BAR (1986-1991) Colt Model 6600DH AR-15A2 Delta H-BAR (1986-1991) (has 3x9 power scope)	360,200
LH (Sporter Lightweight) Colt Model 6830 Sporter Lightweight Carbine (7.62x39)	11,326
ST (Sporter Target) Colt Model 6551 Sporter Target Model Rifle (1991-)	38,100
MH (Match HBAR) Colt Model 6601 Sporter Match H-Bar (1991- Colt Model 6601 Sporter Match Delta H-Bar (1991-1992) Has 3x9 Scope. Colt Model 6601C Match Target H-BAR Compensated	86,025
TOTALS	586,785 (at least)

The first Non-Colt Guns Become Available (1977-1989)

Following the expiration of Gene Stoner's patent on the M-16 gas system in 1977, aftermarket lower receivers became available from the following companies:

Quality Parts Company (later Bushmaster). This was the first iteration of Bushmaster.

Essential Arms. They basically contracted out their cast receivers – those whose letters and numbers are aligned near perfectly were cast by Ruger, while the misaligned number receivers were cast by an as unknown company in Texas. Back in the days their lowers cost about $59.00. They went out of business in late 1994 / early 1995 and DPMS bought the tooling.

Eagle Arms. Formed 1986. Later bought the rights to the old Armalite company in 1997 and renamed themselves Armalite. (it didn't hurt that they had begun development of an AR15 in .308 as well).

Palmetto Armory. Their lower receivers were made by SGW/Olympic Arms.

PWA (Pac-West Arms). Their lower receivers were made by Lewis Machine and Tool Company (LMT). Company defunct by 2000-2001.

SGW (Schuetzen Gun Works) / Olympic Arms. Schuetzen Gun Works began in 1956 in Colorado Springs making barrels. They eventually moved to Olympia, WA in 1975 and started making lowers in 1979. In 1982, they changed their name to Olympic Arms, Inc. Back in the days their lowers cost about $89.00.

Frankfort Arsenal. They went out of business in 1987.)

Advanced Armaments Inc.

Sendra. Nesard was also owned by the same company – apparently Dick Drasen, the owner of Nesard got into trouble with the Federal Government when it was found that Nesard was “acquiring” parts from Illinois National Guard Armories.

Using these lowers, they were then assembled into complete guns using parts from Lone Star Ordnance, Nesard, Sarco, Gunsmoke Enterprises, etc. In addition to the small aftermarket, there were military contract overrun parts as well. Because Colt owned the M16 Technical Design Package (TDP), parts at the time were terrible, with many of them being out of spec (best case), with the worst case being used M-16 parts imported from overseas, reparkerized and sold as new.

At least as early as 1985, Rock Island Arsenal was making complete XM15(A1) rifles using Sendra lowers and parts. By 1989, Eagle Arms was making complete AR15s using Lewis Machine and Tool Company (LMT) as their major subcontractor.

*Total Known* AR Style Rifles Produced as of 13 September 1994**
Manufacturer	Number
Colt	586,785
Eagle Arms / Armalite	30,000 (approx)
Pac-West Arms	35,222
Bushmaster	63,000 (approx)
Olympic Arms (see NOTE)	61,587 (approx)
DPMS	10,300
J.L.M & Sons	250
Total Known Definitely	787,144 (at least)

The Assault Weapons Ban Sparks an AR15 Renaissance (1994-Present)

Unfortunately, ATF Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Reports (AFMERs) are not available before 1998 online. To get earlier AFMER data, you have to file a FOIA with the ATF, which is exceedingly slow to respond. This means that there is a three year (1995-1997) interval of no data available to us.

Because of the way the ATF's AFMER data is collected (only handguns are broken out by caliber); in order to avoid contamination from non AR pattern rifles; I've limited the manufacturers on this list to those known to almost exclusively make AR pattern rifles.

Furthermore; because of the way AR15s are designed, there are three types of versions we have to keep track of in AFMER reports:

AR-15 Pistols

AR-15 Pistols have barrels shorter than 16 inches; and are divided into two types:

Pre 2013 Pistol

In the early years, they had no stocks; being just the buffer tube for the recoil spring and buffer for the AR15's direct impingement gas system.

Post 2013 Pistol

What really caused AR-15 pistols to take off was the invention in 2013 of the “SIG Brace” by Alex Bosco of SB Tactical. The seed of the “SIG Brace” was during a 2012 range trip when Bosco was shooting with a disabled friend, who was asked by a range officer to stop firing his AR15 pistol, due to poor control of the gun.

Bosco then designed a new brace system for AR15 pistols to enable more controllable one handed firing. After getting an ATF determination that the brace didn't create a “Short Barreled Rifle”, pursuant to National Firearms Act regulations, Bosco then teamed up with SIG Sauer for greater distribution and refinement of his concept.

Since then, the AR15 pistol market has exploded; due to a variety of reasons:

No 10-12 month wait times for approval by the ATF (this is the big one) and paying the $200 NFA tax.
In many states, anti-poaching regulations prevent you from keeping a loaded rifle in your car, but not a loaded pistol.
Because they're not controlled under the NFA, you don't have to register with your local police (some states have regulations on NFA items), and you don't have to notify the ATF when you cross state lines.

AR-15 Rifles

Originally, the majority of AR15's sold up to the 1994 AWB were 20-inch barreled Rifles with fixed M-16 style stocks. 16 inch barreled Carbines existed with collapsible stocks, but they were a second rate to full size rifles.

AR-15 Rifle

AR-15 Carbine

Then three events happened.

The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban made collapsible stocks illegal for ten years; causing people to want them.
The US Army adopted the M4 Carbine for widespread use in 1994. AR15 pattern carbines had existed in US Military stocks since 1965 (The XM177 Carbine and the USAF's GAU-5A/GUU-5P); but they were small in quantity.
The 2003-2011 Iraq War, where the M4 Carbine quickly became the signature weapon of US Infantry.

Now, just about every AR15 Rifle sold these days is in a “Carbine” configuration, with the full size rifle being a minority.

AR-15 Lower Receivers
(Miscellaneous Firearms)

AR-15 Lower Receiver.

AR15 lower receivers have been manufactured by companies since about 1979; although only in the last ten years have they become extremely popular as more information became available about how to 'build your own' and high quality parts kits became available.

They're classified in ATF AFMER reports as “Miscellaneous Firearms”; and are subject to the same restrictions as pistol purchases; because they can be assembled into pistols.

The reasons driving their popularity this last decade are that:

Lower receivers are legally considered the 'firearm' by the ATF.
You can get a 'stripped' lower receiver for as low as $39.99 from online vendors.
They take up considerably less space than an assembled rifle/carbine/pistol, being about only 7.5 inches long, by a couple inches wide and deep.

So many people, in anticipation of future bans, “stockpile” them, by buying them in quantity (10 of them are only $399.90) and put them in a shelf for the future.

Without further ado, here are the raw numbers from 1998-2017:

Type	Manufacturer	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	TOTALS
RIFLES	Colt's Mfg Co / Colt Defense	33,212	29,143	29,950	11,471	13,556	18,480	13,705	2,210	8,480	11,138	20,896	46,483	11,175	16,419	111,247	147,177	59,603	79,565	117,263	13,942	795,115
PISTOLS	Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	98	44	24	100	62	328
MISC	Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,007	0	0	0	939	420	957	2,735	2,348	0	2,804	522	11,732
RIFLES	Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2,481	3,052	8,418	947	918	5,347	9,475	2,509	1,025	9,970	5,079	49,221
MISC	Bear Creek Arsenal	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,145	1,145
RIFLES	Bear Creek Arsenal	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	385	3,233	1,792	0	3,023	8,433
RIFLES	AR15.COM (AVILA, EDWARD)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	84	43	48	42	1	218
MISC	AR15.COM (AVILA, EDWARD)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	201	87	64	252	0	0	35	639
PISTOLS	Del-Ton Inc	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	62	433	505
RIFLES	Del-Ton Inc	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2,037	19,369	5,676	4,854	16,439	15,451	10,264	28,443	34,293	24,829	161,655
MISC	Del-Ton Inc	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4,353	10,009	0	0	0	0	0	14,362
RIFLES	Smith & Wesson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4,650	24,676	38,372	110,057	100,051	156,705	302,343	348,731	159,087	209,180	396,710	265,356	2,115,918
RIFLES	Troy Industries	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	2,922	2,633	1,997	2,969	8,091	2,688	21,320
RIFLES	Stag Arms	0	0	0	0	0	0	2,008	7,848	22,120	25,768	31,688	48,820	19,545	34,211	78,367	62,590	18,307	11,816	41,990	10,932	416,010
PISTOLS	Adams Arms LLC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	891	289	394	78	1,652
RIFLES	Adams Arms LLC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,139	9,807	6,761	6,182	8,408	2,342	34,639
PISTOLS	Palmetto State Armory (AK and AR)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0	0	1	489	974	3,326	1,475
RIFLES	Palmetto State Armory (AK and AR)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,363	18,163	11,297	10,848	5,059	12,255	11,496	28562	99,043
MISC	Palmetto State Armory (AK and AR)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	28,283	64,743	77,304	91,144	113,748	128,529	503,751
RIFLES	Knight's Manufacturing Company C.R. Knight	474	996	0	966	435	320	56	212	17	124	267	8,200	1,437	1,332	1,099	8,041	2,418	2,009	1,486	803	30,692
MISC	Knight's Manufacturing Company C.R. Knight	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3,334	0	0	0	0	469	1030	4,833
RIFLES	Spike's Tactical	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	47	228	321	506	267	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,369
RIFLES	Daniel Defense Inc	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	0	0	0	4,839	2,413	6,911	16,603	30,168	15,682	24,721	49,159	34,098	184,614
RIFLES	Armalite AR1510 LLC Strategic Armory Corps	6,605	8,018	8,475	8,246	11,158	13,104	10,013	7,594	10,758	12,693	15,058	17,014	9,562	12,253	14,672	15,761	6,653	15,030	58,504	8,581	269,752
MISC	Armalite AR1510 LLC Strategic Armory Corps	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2,561	3,468	866	603	442	864	8,804
RIFLES	Seekins Precision LLC Glenn Seekins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	43	44	90	113	417	3,048	2,227	5,982
MISC	Seekins Precision LLC Glenn Seekins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	350	49	343	3,513	0	6,442	6,971	6,093	3,136	26,897
RIFLES	Essential Arms Co.	0	0	0	0	0	0	450	1,089	0	3,051	0	5,573	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10,163
MISC	Essential Arms Co.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,590	0	6,189	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7,779
RIFLES	Rock River Arms Inc	0	330	191	1,245	2,362	14,690	8,742	12,817	17,554	22,668	28,233	38,766	23,200	33,781	60,427	58,400	18,569	14,406	24,166	6,667	387,214
RIFLES	Primary Weapons Systems Inc (PWS)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	154	1,481	2,428	2,510	1,936	2,103	3,055	1,017	14,684
PISTOLS	Primary Weapons Systems Inc (PWS)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	21	153	270	373	916	247	198	329	2,518
RIFLES	Bushmaster Firearms / BFI-Q Bushmaster Firearms Intl.	25,610	64,506	39,932	31,346	45,061	45,427	44,348	65,932	60,838	59,399	85,756	86,263	40,878	38,075	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	733,371
PISTOLS	Bushmaster Firearms / BFI-Q Bushmaster Firearms Intl.	0	0	0	0	0	894	2,186	2,508	1,162	1,553	1,223	1,067	283	0	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	10,876
MISC	Bushmaster Firearms / BFI-Q Bushmaster Firearms Intl.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,613	1,210	631	579	811	0	0	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	4,844
RIFLES	CMMG	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	327	2,161	2,265	15,655	14,237	7,663	8,165	9,004	12,679	2,606	4,839	9,247	2,369	91,217
PISTOLS	CMMG	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	77	90	43	83	58	20	63	30	15	436	565	1,110	844	3,434
MISC	CMMG	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11,569	11,219	4,463	3,289	5,563	3,938	40,041
RIFLES	Defense Procurement Mfg. Services Inc. DPMS	3,711	6,903	5,869	4,921	7,709	5,543	11,389	21,944	47,466	58,674	94,553	83,129	46,891	39,411	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	438,113
MISC	Defense Procurement Mfg. Services Inc. DPMS	0	0	0	0	0	9,679	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	MFG'd Under Remington	9,679
RIFLES	Hesse Arms / Vulcan Arms / Vulcan Group	138	606	967	1,018	3,991	2,642	1,115	2,593	5,941	784	3,638	2,534	86	280	46	0	0	0	0	0	26,379
RIFLES	Aero Precision	0	0	0	0	0	676	610	859	4,356	9,993	12,938	27,109	19,939	39,565	73,172	0	5	1,118	4,931	1,490	196,761
MISC	Aero Precision	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	36,118	40,557	51,592	81,516	78,033	287,816
RIFLES	Olympic Arms	4,481	7,456	3,910	5,592	7,280	7,005	6,554	8,227	7,334	7,594	9,829	12,089	2,892	5,044	9,676	12,999	4,293	1,560	1,943	371	126,129
RIFLES	Lewis Machine & Tool Co.	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	144	275	289	1,599	0	3,553	4,998	6,278	8,727	2,320	3,578	4,757	1,358	37,877
MISC	Lewis Machine & Tool Co.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	50	1,082	0	3,473	0	1,635	1,780	2,529	4,265	1,784	0	0	2,017	18,615
RIFLES	Noveske Rifleworks LLC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	19	43	190	770	750	748	1,437	2,280	1,525	1,672	1,074	2,039	1,696	14,243
RIFLES	Land Warfare Resources Corp (LWRC)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	97	0	2,749	9,100	6,144	5,701	10,204	17,999	7,261	8,329	23,642	12,413	103,655
PISTOLS	Land Warfare Resources Corp (LWRC)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	207	205	221	277	462	634	256	141	492	2,895
MISC	Land Warfare Resources Corp (LWRC)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	189	741	1,849	635	617	177	517	4,725
PISTOLS	Windham Weaponry	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	208	320	379	311	1,218
RIFLES	Windham Weaponry	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5,494	57,659	84,193	27,188	34,824	64,715	9,484	283,557
MISC	Windham Weaponry	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	268	359	0	1,096	1,724
TOTALS		74,231	117,958	89,294	64,805	91,552	118,461	101,176	136,146	198,459	244,335	379,143	545,521	307,469	446,329	853,519	985,683	495,628	624,058	1,093,125	666,065	7,632,957
Miscellaneous Notes: 1.) From 2012 onwards, all DPMS and Bushmaster weapons are manufactured under Remington's AFMER index assigner. Because Remington makes a lot of non-AR pattern stuff, it becomes impossible to separate AR pattern rifles from their normal production counts. 2.) Palmetto State Armory makes both AK and AR pattern rifles/pistols, so subtract 100,000~ from the grand totals to account for uncertainty over PSA's AR production.

Comparison of the AR15 with other Widespread Firearms

Firearm	Approximate # Mfg'd.	Years on Market	Number Produced Per Year (Avg)
Colt SP1 AR15 (1964-1981 Period)	157,230	17	9,248~
All AR15s (1964-1994 Period)	787,144	30	26,238~
All AR15s (1998-2017 Period)	7.5~ million	19	394,736
All AR15s (1964-2017 Totals)	8.287~ million	53	156,358~
Ruger 10/22 (1964-1967 Period)	131,303	3	43,767~
Ruger 10/22 (1964-2009 Totals)	5.7~ million	45	126,666~
Remington 31 Shotgun (1931-1949 Total Prod)	196,000	18	10,888~
Remington 870 Shotgun (1950-1973 Period)	2~ million	23	86,956~
Remington 870 Shotgun (1974-1983 Period)	1~ million	9	111,111~
Remington 870 Shotgun (1984-1996 Period)	4~ million	12	333,333~
Remington 870 Shotgun (1997-2009 Period)	3~ million	12	250,000~
Remington 870 Shotgun (1950-2009 Totals)	10~ million	56	178,571~
Remington 700 Rifle (1962-1994 Period)	3~ million	32	93,750~
Remington 700 Rifle (1995-2018 Period)	2~ million	23	86,956~
Remington 700 Rifle (1962-2018 Totals)	5~ million	55	90,909~

You can see from the table above, that for the first 17 years of AR production (1964-1981), it was about as popular as the Remington Model 31 Shotgun; at around 9,000 to 10,000 units sold annually.

However, following the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, it's popularity exploded as 7.5~ million were made over the nineteen years from 1998 to 2017.

This compares favorably with the peak of Remington Model 870 pump-action shotgun popularity in 1984-1996, where 4 million were made over twelve years.

Based off production totals, I would have to say that the AR15 market is quickly reaching saturation; with total production levels nearing or above that for the two classic “Americana” weapons, the Remington Models 870 and 700.

Fortunately for AR style firearm manufacturers, at least one major political party (The Democrat Party's 2016 platform says – “keep weapons of war—such as assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines (LCAM’s)—off our streets”) wants them gone; sparking a near-continuous run on them by the American public.