Sturm Ruger Makes Big Bucks as Gun Sales Boom

There's nothing like scary politicians to make folks stock up on guns and ammo

The Black Friday buying spree wasn't confined to e-readers, flat-panel TVs and digital tablets this year. Gun sales also shot up.

Criminal background checks required to buy a gun hit a single-day record of 154,873 on Black Friday, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. That was nearly 20% higher than the previous high for checks by the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), set on Black Friday last year.

Black Friday historically has been among the most active days for firearm sales. This year's new one-day record wasn't unexpected, says the NSSF, given reports of increased gun sales following President Obama's re-election amid fears over tighter gun control laws.