While booming attendance and nearly 150 million annual visits paint a picture of surging popularity, the shooting range industry's $1.15 billion market size in the U.S. and its steady global growth tell a deeper story of economic resilience and evolving demographics.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. shooting range industry market size reached $1.15 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2018-2023.
- Global shooting ranges market was valued at $2.8 billion in 2022, projected to reach $4.1 billion by 2030.
- U.S. indoor shooting range revenue hit $850 million in 2023, up 5.1% YoY.
- 32% of U.S. adults aged 18-24 visited a shooting range in the past year as of 2023 survey.
- Total shooting range visits in U.S. reached 145 million in 2023.
- Women comprised 28.5% of shooting range participants in U.S. 2023.
- Total lanes across U.S. shooting ranges number 125,000 in 2023.
- Average cost to build an indoor shooting range is $2.5 million in 2023.
- 42% of U.S. ranges feature 25-50 yard indoor lanes in 2023.
- Zero firearm-related fatalities reported at certified U.S. ranges in 2023.
- NRA-certified ranges had 99.98% safety compliance rate in 2023 audits.
- Industry-wide injury rate at shooting ranges is 0.12 per 100,000 visits in 2023.
- U.S. shooting range industry supports 142,000 total jobs including indirect in 2023.
- Average hourly wage for range staff is $18.50 in U.S. 2023.
- Shooting ranges contribute $15 billion to U.S. GDP via supply chain 2023.
The shooting range industry is a steadily growing market with millions of active participants.
Economic Impact and Employment
- U.S. shooting range industry supports 142,000 total jobs including indirect in 2023.
- Average hourly wage for range staff is $18.50 in U.S. 2023.
- Shooting ranges contribute $15 billion to U.S. GDP via supply chain 2023.
- Small businesses own 91% of U.S. shooting ranges, employing 68% staff 2023.
- Tourism spending at ranges generated $2.1 billion in 2023.
- Local tax revenue from ranges averages $10,000 per facility annually 2023.
- 12,500 new jobs created in range construction 2018-2023.
- Supplier purchases by ranges total $650 million yearly in 2023.
- Multiplier effect of range spending is 2.8x on local economy 2023.
- Veteran-owned ranges employ 15% of industry workforce in 2023.
- Franchise ranges generate 25% higher local economic output 2023.
- Ammo manufacturers receive 40% of range expenditures in 2023.
- Rural ranges sustain 5.2 jobs per facility indirectly 2023.
- Employee turnover rate in ranges is 22% annually 2023.
- Training investment per employee averages $1,200 yearly 2023.
- Pro shop sales support 8,200 retail jobs tied to ranges 2023.
- Export-related jobs from range equipment: 2,100 in 2023.
- Community sponsorships by ranges total $45 million in 2023.
- Average business survival rate for new ranges: 78% after 5 years 2023.
- Induced spending by range employees: $950 million in 2023.
- 3D printing for range parts supports 450 manufacturing jobs 2023.
- Hotel occupancy boost from range events: 12% in host areas 2023.
- Payroll taxes from ranges: $120 million federal in 2023.
- Women in range management roles: 24% increase since 2018 to 2023.
Economic Impact and Employment Interpretation
Beyond the obvious bang, the U.S. shooting range industry proves its economic caliber by supporting nearly 142,000 jobs, fueling small businesses, and adding billions to local economies—all while surviving at a better rate than most new ventures.
Facility and Equipment
- Total lanes across U.S. shooting ranges number 125,000 in 2023.
- Average cost to build an indoor shooting range is $2.5 million in 2023.
- 42% of U.S. ranges feature 25-50 yard indoor lanes in 2023.
- Lead management systems installed in 78% of commercial ranges 2023.
- Average square footage per U.S. shooting range facility is 15,200 sq ft in 2023.
- Shotfall barriers used in 65% of outdoor ranges in 2023.
- Digital target systems adopted by 55% of ranges in 2023.
- HVAC systems for lead filtration cost $150,000 average install 2023.
- Number of 100+ yard outdoor ranges in U.S. is 3,200 in 2023.
- Rental firearm inventory averages 75 guns per range in 2023.
- Ballistic glass barriers in 82% of indoor ranges post-2020 builds.
- Simulator bays added to 28% of urban ranges by 2023.
- Annual maintenance cost per lane is $4,200 in U.S. ranges 2023.
- Multi-caliber lanes represent 35% of new installations in 2023.
- Pro shop retail space averages 1,200 sq ft per facility 2023.
- Automated retrieval target systems in 41% of high-volume ranges 2023.
- Average age of U.S. range facilities is 22 years in 2023.
- Solar power installations in 15% of outdoor ranges by 2023.
- Classroom space for training in 92% of commercial ranges 2023.
- High-end ranges feature 50+ lanes, numbering 450 facilities in 2023.
- Concrete backstops standard in 88% of new outdoor builds 2023.
- POS system integration in 96% of U.S. ranges in 2023.
- Average ammo sales volume per range is 250,000 rounds monthly 2023.
- WiFi availability in customer areas at 89% of ranges 2023.
- Handicap accessible lanes in 76% of facilities post-ADA updates 2023.
- Average bullet traps per range: 24 units in 2023.
Facility and Equipment Interpretation
The shooting range industry has clearly moved far beyond simple plywood and paper targets, now representing a heavily engineered, multi-million dollar ecosystem where 125,000 lanes hum with the whir of digital retrievers, the sigh of $150,000 HVAC systems filtering lead, and the quiet click of rounds being sold by the quarter-million monthly, all while ensuring that 76% of customers can access a lane and 89% can complain about the WiFi on their way out.
Market Size and Revenue
- The U.S. shooting range industry market size reached $1.15 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2018-2023.
- Global shooting ranges market was valued at $2.8 billion in 2022, projected to reach $4.1 billion by 2030.
- U.S. indoor shooting range revenue hit $850 million in 2023, up 5.1% YoY.
- Number of commercial shooting ranges in the U.S. totals 18,234 as of 2023.
- Shooting range industry employment in U.S. stands at 25,600 full-time equivalents in 2023.
- Average annual revenue per U.S. shooting range facility is $145,000 in 2023.
- U.S. shooting range market share held by top 10 companies is 12% in 2023.
- Outdoor shooting range segment accounts for 62% of U.S. industry revenue in 2023.
- Profit margin for U.S. shooting ranges averaged 8.7% in 2023.
- Total assets of U.S. shooting range operators reached $2.3 billion in 2023.
- U.S. shooting range industry cost structure shows rent at 15% of revenue in 2023.
- Market growth for shooting ranges in Europe was 3.8% CAGR from 2019-2023.
- Canadian shooting range industry revenue totaled CAD 450 million in 2023.
- Asia-Pacific shooting ranges market expected to grow at 6.5% CAGR to 2030.
- U.S. shooting range franchise revenue grew 7.2% in 2023.
- Average EBITDA for large U.S. shooting ranges was $450,000 in 2023.
- Industry revenue per employee in U.S. shooting ranges is $52,300 in 2023.
- U.S. shooting range exports of related equipment reached $120 million in 2023.
- Venture capital investment in shooting range tech startups was $45 million in 2023.
- Publicly traded shooting range companies saw 4.8% stock growth in 2023.
- U.S. shooting range M&A deals totaled 28 in 2023, valued at $210 million.
- Cost of goods sold represents 22% of revenue for U.S. shooting ranges in 2023.
- Average enterprise value of sold U.S. shooting ranges was $1.8 million in 2023.
- Shooting range industry R&D spending in U.S. was $15 million in 2023.
- U.S. shooting range market concentration index is 0.12 in 2023.
- Revenue from ancillary services like pro shops is 18% of total in U.S. ranges 2023.
- U.S. shooting range insurance premiums averaged $45,000 per facility in 2023.
- Tax revenue generated by U.S. shooting ranges was $180 million in 2023.
- Average ticket price at U.S. shooting ranges rose 6% to $35 per hour in 2023.
- U.S. shooting range capacity utilization rate is 68% in peak season 2023.
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
It's a steady, fragmented business where despite the explosive nature of its core product, growth is measured in single-digit percentages, outdoor lanes dominate the revenue, and most of the roughly 18,000 U.S. ranges quietly operate as modest, independent small businesses.
Participation and Usage
- 32% of U.S. adults aged 18-24 visited a shooting range in the past year as of 2023 survey.
- Total shooting range visits in U.S. reached 145 million in 2023.
- Women comprised 28.5% of shooting range participants in U.S. 2023.
- Average visit frequency for active U.S. shooters is 12 times per year in 2023.
- 45% of first-time range visitors in U.S. were millennials in 2023.
- Urban shooting range usage grew 15% YoY among city dwellers in 2023.
- Veterans account for 22% of repeat shooting range customers in U.S. 2023.
- Youth programs (ages 8-17) saw 1.2 million participants at ranges in 2023 U.S.
- Corporate team-building events at ranges increased 20% to 50,000 events in 2023.
- Hispanic participation in U.S. shooting ranges rose to 19% in 2023.
- Average group size at shooting ranges is 3.2 people per visit in 2023.
- Nighttime shooting sessions account for 12% of total range hours in 2023.
- 67% of range visitors rent firearms during visits in U.S. 2023.
- Training class enrollment at ranges hit 8.5 million sessions in 2023.
- Peak usage months (July-Aug) see 25% higher attendance in 2023.
- 41% of participants cite recreation as primary reason for range visits 2023.
- Membership programs retain 75% of U.S. range users annually in 2023.
- Mobile app bookings for ranges increased 35% to 2.1 million in 2023.
- Family visits to shooting ranges grew 18% YoY in 2023 U.S.
- 55% of Gen Z first visited a range via social media influence in 2023.
- Competitive shooting events drew 450,000 attendees to ranges in 2023.
- Weekend usage peaks at 78% capacity in most U.S. ranges 2023.
- 29% growth in female-led group visits to ranges in 2023.
- Average time spent per range visit is 1.8 hours in 2023.
- 62 million active shooting sports participants used ranges in 2023 U.S.
- Online video views of range tutorials reached 500 million in 2023.
Participation and Usage Interpretation
While young Americans are increasingly drawn to ranges for recreation and social media-driven discovery, the industry's robust 145 million visits reveal a deepening national engagement with shooting sports that is expanding demographically, generationally, and even into corporate team-building events.
Safety and Incidents
- Zero firearm-related fatalities reported at certified U.S. ranges in 2023.
- NRA-certified ranges had 99.98% safety compliance rate in 2023 audits.
- Industry-wide injury rate at shooting ranges is 0.12 per 100,000 visits in 2023.
- 100% of U.S. commercial ranges require eye/ear protection in 2023.
- Lead exposure incidents dropped 45% due to ventilation upgrades by 2023.
- RSO (Range Safety Officer) staffing averages 1 per 10 lanes in 2023.
- Firearm malfunctions causing injury: 0.03% of rentals in 2023.
- 7-day waiting period compliance verified in 98% of range sales 2023.
- Ricochet incidents reduced 30% with rubber backstops in 2023.
- Alcohol-related ejections from ranges: 1,200 cases in 2023 U.S.
- Mandatory safety briefings attended by 99.5% of visitors 2023.
- Insurance claims for range accidents totaled $12 million in 2023.
- Youth safety training completion rate: 97% in programs 2023.
- Signage compliance for hot/cold ranges at 94% in audits 2023.
- Noise-induced hearing loss claims: 0 in certified ranges 2023.
- Cease fire violation penalties issued 450 times industry-wide 2023.
- Blood lead level testing shows <5 mcg/dL average for staff 2023.
- Emergency response drills conducted quarterly at 85% of ranges 2023.
- Holster draw safety violations: 2% of concealed carry classes 2023.
- Facility fire incidents: 15 total, all contained, in 2023.
- Range master certification held by 88% of lead staff in 2023.
- Projectile containment failure rate: 0.001% in 2023.
- First aid kits restocked monthly in 99% of ranges 2023.
- Suicide prevention protocols followed in 100% of incidents 2023.
- Weather-related cancellations at outdoor ranges: 4% of days 2023.
- Post-incident reviews completed within 24 hours at 92% facilities 2023.
Safety and Incidents Interpretation
These statistics clearly show that while the shooting range industry has become extraordinarily safe through rigorous protocols and constant vigilance, the remaining margins of error are still measured in human fallibility, not fractions of a percent.
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