Arizona is one of the busiest gun-making states in the country, drawn by a pro-gun culture, open land for testing and a business-friendly climate. Makers here build everything from Tucson AR-15s and Phoenix precision rifles to the reloading presses, triggers, holsters and optics found in gun safes across America.
Firearm makers
| Maker | City | Founded | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sturm, Ruger and Co. | Prescott | 1949 | Pistols (Prescott plant) |
| Patriot Ordnance Factory | Phoenix | 2002 | Piston AR rifles |
| Arms Tech Ltd. | Phoenix | 1987 | Precision rifles |
| Robar Companies | Phoenix | – | Custom rifles, finishes |
| Smith Enterprise | Tempe | 1979 | M14 rifles and parts |
| KE Arms | Phoenix | – | Polymer AR receivers |
| Sionics Weapon Systems | Tucson | – | AR-15 rifles |
| Dillon Aero | Scottsdale | 1989 | M134D minigun |
Parts, accessories and reloading
| Maker | City | Founded | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon Precision | Scottsdale | 1979 | Reloading presses |
| Timney Triggers | Phoenix | 1946 | Aftermarket triggers |
| McMillan Fiberglass Stocks | Phoenix | 1975 | Rifle stocks |
| Galco Gunleather | Phoenix | 1969 | Holsters and belts |
| Riton Optics | Tucson | 2013 | Riflescopes, red dots |
Spotlight on Arizona makers
Made in Tucson: Sionics
Tucson-built AR-15 rifles and parts from a local maker.
Dillon Precision, Scottsdale
Mike Dillon started building reloading presses in his garage in 1979. Dillon blue progressive presses now load ammunition on benches across the country.
Riton Optics, Tucson
Founded in 2013 by an Air Force veteran, Riton opened a 10,000 square foot Tucson headquarters in 2020 for its scopes and red dots.
Ruger in Prescott
One of Ruger’s main factories, a 230,000 square foot plant in northern Arizona that builds Ruger pistols.
Galco Gunleather, Phoenix
Leather and hybrid holsters, belts and slings, made in Phoenix since 1983.
McMillan, Phoenix
Kelly and Gale McMillan’s fiberglass stocks went on the Marine Corps M40A1 sniper rifle and are still built in Phoenix.
Made in Tucson: Sionics
A quick look at a Sionics SAR-15, a locally built rifle with plenty of quality parts.
Ammunition in Arizona
AMMO Inc. of Scottsdale built ammunition for several years before selling its ammunition plant to Olin Winchester in April 2025. The Scottsdale company now runs a firearms marketplace. Reloaders, meanwhile, have Dillon Precision right in Scottsdale. Ammunition choices are covered on Ammo Buyers Guide.com.
Gunsite Academy
Not a manufacturer, but no list of Arizona gun industry names is complete without Gunsite. Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper founded it near Paulden in 1976 as the American Pistol Institute, and it remains one of the best-known firearms schools in the world. Training reviews are on After Action.net.
Arizona’s state gun
Arizona’s official state firearm, the Colt Single Action Army, was never built in Arizona, but it was everywhere in the territorial days. The full story, with drawings, is on Arizona State Gun. More on single action revolvers is at Revolver Buyers Guide.com.
Made-in-America makers in every state are listed at Minuteman University.com: U.S. Made Firearm Manufacturers by State. Looking for a store that carries Arizona brands? See AZ Gun Shops, or catch them at an Arizona gun show.