Would you like gun and outdoor industry companies to learn what products you favor, or what types of hunting you prefer? Then you may want to take a FREE SURVEY.

Your responses help the hunting, recreational shooting, and defensive firearms markets develop new products and improve services. The results are shared with conservation and advocacy groups, allowing them to advance conservation and pro-second amendment issues. To participate, go to ShooterSurvey.com or HunterSurvey.com. NOTE: An email address is required.

Here are some interesting results from recent surveys:

NOTE: Results exceed 100% because many shooters use multiple firearms and/or bow types.

NOTE: Results exceed 100% because many hunters pursue multiple species.

If you take the survey, you get a chance to win a $100 gift card. Each quarter, respondents are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift cards to the outdoor retailer of their choice.

About Shooter Survey and Hunter Survey
Southwick Associates launched the HunterSurvey and ShooterSurvey in 2006 to help state Fish & Wildlife Agencies, conservation organizations, and the outdoor equipment industry understand what hunters, recreational target shooters, and personal protectors want and need. Survey results reflect the attitudes and habits of hunters and recreational shooters across the United States and are analyzed to develop new products, provide better services, and make smarter decisions that help improve public hunting, recreational shooting, and protection opportunities.

All survey responses are kept strictly confidential. Only summaries of the responses are used in reporting. However, to take the survey you must provide an email address to Southwick Associates. We recommend you NOT sign up with a primary business or personal email.
This article copyright 2023 AccurateShooter.com. No reproduction is allowed.

As record numbers of Americans enjoyed the outdoors amid the pandemic in 2020, purchases of hunting and shooting equipment soared as well. Southwick Associates completed 15,000 hunter and recreational shooter surveys in 2020 through the online HunterSurvey and ShooterSurvey consumer panels and identified the top brands in the market.

What brands are favored by gun guys? Well here are the results of 2020 consumer surveys conducted by Southwick Associates. The surveys asked hunters and shooters to indicate their most frequently-purchased hunting and shooting product categories. This “Top Brand” list was compiled from 2020 internet-based surveys conducted through HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com websites.

In 2020, most frequently purchased brands included:

• Top Traditional Rifles brand: Savage
• Top Handguns brand: Smith & Wesson
• Top Reloading Powder brand: IMR
• Top Reloading Presses brand: Lee Precision
• Top Reloading Dies brand: Lee Precision
• Top Handgun Ammunition brand: Federal
• Top Shotgun Ammunition brand: Winchester
• Top Magazines brand: Magpul
• Top Gun Case brand: Allen
• Top Binoculars brand: Vortex
• Top Reflex/Red Dot Sights brand: SIG Sauer
• Top Laser Sights brand: Crimson Trace
• Top Non-powered Aftermarket Sights brand: Trijicon
• Top Trail Camera brand: Wildgame Innovations
• Top Camo Apparel Brand: Mossy Oak
• Top Hunting Knives brand: Buck

Topline results of the Southwick Associates consumer tracking study are available in the Hunting & Shooting Participation and Equipment Purchases Report. This in-depth resource tracks hunting & shooting participation and equipment purchases for more than 100 products.

Top Traditional Rifles Brand Savage recently introduced a new straight-pull rifle, the Impulse:

The list above is only a fraction of all hunting and shooting categories tracked by Southwick Associates. Southwick Associates also tracks the percentage of sales occurring across different retail channels, total spending per category, average prices, and demographics for hunters and shooters buying specific products. Full reports, with a wealth of information, are available from Southwick Associates.

Did you know that target shooting (pistol, rifle, shotgun) represents a $16.9 Billion per year industry in America? Or that 20 million Americans enjoy target shooting regularly? In fact, target shooting-related spending contributes more than $46 million per day to the U.S. economy. Plus an estimated 329,000 American jobs are supported by target shooting in the USA. These and other remarkable facts were revealed in a 2019 NSSF report from Southwick Associates.

CLICK HERE for Full 2019 Target Shooting Report PDF »

Not surprisingly, pistol shooting is the most popular form of target shooting, with 13.8 million handgun shooters. The number of rifle target shooters is about 12% less — 12.2 million enthusiasts. Just over 10 million people take part in shotgun sports, and 3.3 million shoot muzzleloading firearms.

Firearms Excise Taxes Support Conservation
Target shooting activities not only support local and national business, but the transactions generate vital revenues for federal, state, and local governments. In fact, target shooting generates, on average, over $14 million dollars per day in total tax revenues (i.e. federal, state, and local). Excise taxes on gun and ammo sales are also key to conservation. 2016, the total excise taxes returned to state wildlife agencies through fireams and ammunition sales totaled over $780 million.

The shooting sports are not a “man’s game” these days. Far from it. More and more women have taken up target shooting. A recent survey showed an 80% increase in the number of women target shooters from 2001 to 2016. In total, six million American ladies participated in target shooting in 2016. Likewise hunting has become more popular with American women. Female hunters in the USA numbered 1.1 million in 2016. That represents a 104% increase from 2001.

Recognizing that ladies are an ever-increasing part of the shooting sports, Shooting Industry Magazine just released its first-ever Woman’s Issue dedicated to female shooters and huntresses. This May 2019 special issue can be accessed for FREE online. CLICK HERE to READ.

While the issue is focused primarily on SELLING products to women, there is some very useful information that can help match directors and club officials. The magazine interviews many business owners and range directors who have developed female-focused shooting and training programs.

Above and below — the world’s best female Action Pistol shooter, Jessie Harrison.

Female Participation in Shooting Sports and Hunting
The Shooting Industry Woman’s Issue spotlights female participation in target shooting and hunting. One key article summarizes a nationwide survey conducted by Southwick Associates. One interesting finding was that much of the increase in female participation can be tracked to younger ladies: “Female participation in both hunting and shooting may be highest among younger women[.]” Notably, 16% of respondents among target shooters in the 16-24 age category were female. Southwick concludes: “Future generations of hunters and shooters will contain more women than ever before”.

The Shooting Industry Magazine Woman’s Issue has more than a dozen articles focusing on women in the shooting sports. We found some good advice from industry leaders and shop owners on developing products for women shooters, CCW holders, and hunters:

“When the ‘shrink it and pink it’ mentality is applied to hunting and outdoor gear, it can be perceived by some as an insult to a woman’s ability and competence. Women, expecially avid female hunters, want to be taken seriously.” –Brenda Weatherby, Weatherby Inc.

“I’m glad to bring a female perspective to a predominantly male industry. In general, men and women have different concerns/issues specifically when carrying a concealed handgun.” — Melissa Torres, Owner Scoots Place

“Seek a woman’s advice and input on any gear you want to bring to market for a female.” — Jessica Hazelaar, Owner Eclipse Holsters

Sportsmen spend millions of dollars on hunting and recreational shooting equipment, but which brands are they buying? In 2018, Southwick Associates surveyed more than 20,000 hunters and recreational shooters to find the top brands in the market. The product preferences of hunters and recreational shooters were determined via HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com online polls.

The top handgun maker was Smith & Wesson and the top handgun ammo brand was Federal. Those choices make sense. But some of the other choices were a bit surprising…

IMPORTANT COMMENT: Keep in mind these are just survey results. In many cases, the top choices are simply the cheapest options that sell the most. For example the top choice in reloading dies was Lee Precision. Lee makes some decent products (we like Lee decapping dies), but you won’t find many National Champions using Lee seating or sizing dies.

So assess the survey results with a “grain of salt”, understanding that these aren’t necessarily the best products when gauged by quality or performance. They are just the most popular among those surveyed. A Big Mac isn’t better than a filet mignon, but more Big Macs are purchased. You get the idea…

SURVEY Results — Most Purchased Hunting & Shooting Brands:

Top rimfire rifle brand: Ruger/Sturm Ruger

More than one hundred products are examined in the 2018 Hunting & Shooting Participation and Equipment Purchases Report (CLICK HERE). This in-depth resource covers buying preferences, including the percentage of sales occurring across different retail channels, brand purchased, price paid, and demographics for hunters and shooters buying specific products. Additional information tracked includes total days spent per activity, type of hunting / shooting activity, preferred species and where they hunt. In addition to the topline reports covering hunting and target shooting, annual reports are also offered for special segments including archery consumers, deer hunters, turkey hunters, and waterfowl hunters. To purchase a report or discuss custom research, email Nancy [at] SouthwickAssociates.com.

What brands are favored by gun guys? Well here are the results of 2015 consumer surveys conducted by Southwick Associates. The surveys asked hunters and shooters to indicate their favorite brands for hunting and shooting product categories. This “Top Brand” list was compiled from 2015 internet-based surveys conducted through HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com websites.

In 2015, most frequently purchased brands included:

• Top reloading powder brand: Hodgdon
• Top reloading bullet brand: Hornady
• Top reloading primer brand: CCI
• Top rifle ammunition brand: Federal
• Top handgun ammunition brand: Winchester
• Top shotgun ammunition brand: Winchester
• Top blackpowder brand: Pyrodex
• Top scopes brand: Leupold
• Top binoculars brand: Bushnell
• Top GPS device brand: Garmin
• Top trail camera brand: Moultrie
• Top muzzleloader brand: CVA
• Top knife brand: Buck
• Top holster/ammo belt brand: Blackhawk

The list above is only a fraction of all hunting and shooting categories tracked by Southwick Associates. Along with many other product categories, Southwick Associates also tracks the percentage of sales occurring across different retail channels, total spending per category, average prices, and demographics for hunters and shooters buying specific products. Additional information tracked includes total days spent hunting and shooting, type of hunting, preferred species and where they go.

Information for many other product categories is available from Southwick Associates, a market research firm specializing in the hunting, shooting, sport=fishing, and outdoor recreation markets. Additional details available include total consumer spending by category, breakouts for caliber and gauge, type of retailer, average retail prices, customer demographics, and more.