Firearms and Ammunition Companies Shoot to New Heights in Arkansas

Across Arkansas, firearms and ammunition companies are manufacturing products and components that are essential for our protection and security.  Arkansas is home to a wide range of firearms and ammunition companies, from global leaders like Walther Arms, Fiocchi, SIG Sauer and Vista Outdoor to homegrown companies like Wilson Combat and Nighthawk Custom.

These companies are finding success in Arkansas because of the state’s strong workforce, acceptance of the firearms industry, and business-friendly climate. Arkansas has the 7^th highest percentage of manufacturing employment in the nation, according to Business Facilities – with more than 12 percent of Arkansas’ workforce employed in the manufacturing sector. In total, 3,569 individuals are employed by the firearms and ammunition industry in Arkansas.

In addition to having an established workforce in the state, Arkansas is welcoming to firearms and ammunition companies. Arkansas is the 3^rd most gun-friendly state in the country (Ammo.com) and has the 8^th highest registered guns per capita according to World Population Review. In 2023, the Arkansas Legislature passed eight pro-gun bills during the regular legislative session.

Arkansas has also cut taxes in each legislative session since 2015. Under Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ leadership, the Arkansas Legislature cut taxes twice in 2023 – lowering the state’s top personal income tax rate from 4.9% to 4.4% and cut the top corporate income tax rate from 5.3% to 4.8%. These cuts are making Arkansas an even more favorable business environment for firearms and ammunition companies to thrive.

And these companies are thriving.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Arkansas has the 4^th highest economic output per capita in the United States, as well as the 5^th highest total jobs per capita in the firearms and ammunition industry. In 2022, Arkansas had a $2.125 billion economic impact resulting from firearms and ammunition industry activity.

In recent years, Arkansas has had multiple significant economic development wins in the firearms and ammunition industry. These wins – from companies establishing a new presence in Arkansas to expansions of existing locations – demonstrate that firearms and ammunition companies are finding success in our state.

Firearms industry leader SIG Sauer has had a major presence in Arkansas since 2016 when the company announced it would be relocating its ammunition manufacturing to Jacksonville, Arkansas.

At a 2018 event, SIG Sauer CEO Ron Cohen said, “SIG has invested $30 million in this facility, and we’re just starting.” The company has followed through on that promise. SIG Sauer announced in 2023 that it would be expanding its ammunition manufacturing operations in Jacksonville with a $150 million investment and adding 625 new jobs over the next five years.

Fiocchi USA has made multiple investments in Arkansas since 2020. The company established their presence in Arkansas in 2020 when it located manufacturing operations in Little Rock. This manufacturing facility, which represented a $15 million investment, created 85 jobs. In 2022, the company increased its investment in Arkansas by selecting Little Rock as the location for a new primer manufacturing facility. Fiocchi will be investing $41.5 million to establish the primer manufacturing plant, which will create 120 new jobs.

Vista Outdoor has also invested in Arkansas, acquiring the Remington Ammunition Facility in Lonoke. This 2021 acquisition has resulted in the creation of hundreds of new jobs in the Central Arkansas region.

Firearms industry executives have taken notice of Arkansas and the benefits that it offers to firearms and ammunition companies. From an established workforce to a business-friendly climate, Arkansas provides the ingredients that firearms and ammunition companies need to succeed.

Here’s what several firearms industry executives have said about Arkansas:

“SIG Sauer has a strong partnership with the state of Arkansas, and we have chosen to make a major capital investment here,” said Ron Cohen, CEO of SIG Sauer. “Our commitment is long-term. In the years since we’ve been in Jacksonville, we have seen significant growth in our business and are confident that will continue for many years to come.”

When asked why Fiocchi selected Arkansas to expand its manufacturing operations, former CEO Anthony Acitelli highlighted the state’s business friendliness and talent pool. “We actually picked you, and we picked you because of the business environment, the acceptance of the firearms industry, and really, the people. What I told the employees when we had our all-hands meeting was, ‘Look, we can buy machines, but we can’t buy the people.’ And we really need a skilled workforce,” he said.

With its strong workforce, low costs and taxes, and supportive industry environment, Arkansas provides all of the ingredients firearms and ammunition companies need to succeed. Find out what companies like SIG Sauer, Fiocchi, and Vista Outdoor have learned in recent years: Arkansas is the state where your firearms and ammunition company can take itself to the next level.

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