The economy of the firearms industry is unlike nearly any other market. Aside from the political issues inherent with guns, the raw market forces are unlike few others. You have a very conservative* buying bulk, durable goods that are resistant to planned obsolescence and are relatively affordable. Add in the inherent danger and commensurate limits on use and you'd think that the public market for firearms would be niche and bespoke. But the actual market is much stranger.
Let me be clear that I am only talking about the US firearms market as I understand it. Other markets have different constraints and I know practically nothing about them. The US firearms market has multiple major supplies and overlapping market segments. There are cultural reasons for the popularity of guns in the US and the fact that there have never been strong restrictions on purchasing guns have created a large market.
The demand for affordable guns has always been strong and has traditionally been filled by low end manufacturers, inexpensive imports and surplus military firearms. These firearms historically have been the guns of choice for the impoverished and the working class. These buyers will often own 1 or a small handful of guns with a very specific focus. Typically hunting rifles and shotguns and inexpensive handguns for self protection. The affordable market typically doesn't get the popular gun, or the most powerful calibers. They fall into the category of having a gun, even if it isn't the perfect gun for what they want to do.
The middle class gun community has a lot of variety. Fewer buyers here limit themselves to a less then a half-dozen guns. They typically either branch out into buying and trading many different guns that are designed for more specialized roles or they find a collecting niche and begin to amass large collections of specific guns. Often surplus arms from historic wars or specific countries. Those that spread out usually buy a better quality of gun than the working class gun owner. Often new guns from large manufacturers. You'll find that they may have a dozen pistols in 4 different calibers all that fill some niche. Or a safe full of different rifles with different actions, barrel lengths and other specializations. These gun owners often trade and sell guns that they've grown tired of to finance new and interesting guns.
Wealthy gun owners also tend to behave like middle class gun owners, but more so. With larger collections, more expensive new firearms, custom made guns and more restricted types of guns. Wealthier collectors are more likely to have machineguns and large themed collections.
*As in unlikely to adopt new technology
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