Is The Great Gun Sales Boom Over? Not Exactly

Is the Gun Sales Boom RIP? U.S. firearms sales fell in April, but they are still well above pre-pandemic levels. According to industry data, monthly sales of guns have surpassed 1 million units for 33 months in a row. Monthly sales of at least 1.25 million firearms could be the new normal.

According to Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting (SAAF) estimates, some 1.5 million firearms were sold in April 2022, a year-over-year decrease of 20.7%. Handgun sales fell by 21.8%, whereas long guns dipped by 18.8%. 

Gun sales – The pattern continues

SAAF’s firearms unit sales estimates were based on raw data taken from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), adjusted for checks unlikely to be related to end-user firearms sales. The organization makes certain adjustments to the FBI’s raw data based on retailer reports and other information, so it could underestimate the actual level of unit sales.