Firearm Sales and NICS Checks Dropped in February 2025

AmmoLand ^ | March 11, 2025 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

The National Instant Background Check System (NICS) for February 2025 shows a drop in both Firearm sales and overall background checks. Firearm sales are down about nine percent from 2024. NICS background checks are down about five percent from February 2024.  Handgun and “multiple” sales moved up a bit from January to  February while long gun and “other”  sales dropped a bit. In the graphic below, the lines are for 2024. The bars are for 2025.

President Trump has been in his second term in office for over a month.  The rapid pace of corrections produced by the Trump administration signals a strong turn away from the destructive and radical policies of the Biden administration. During the first Trump term, firearms sales dropped a bit, largely because prospective gun buyers believed President Trump was not nearly as hostile to the Second Amendment as Hillary Clinton would have been. In President Trump’s Second term, the contrast is even greater.

The lines display NICS numbers for 2024, and the bars are for 2025.

According to the NSSF adjusted figures based on the FBI NICS numbers, this month was another month in which over 1 million firearms were sold. February 2025 is the 67th consecutive month in which over 1 million firearms were sold.

Firearm sales generally slump a bit in January after the Christmas sales in December. While February is three days shorter than January or December (except for leap years), February sales track higher than January, on average. In February, NICS checks were higher than those in January in 20 of the 26 years recorded in NICS.

[marktwain]

A 9 percent drop in firearm sales from last February.

[marktwain]

[LouAvul]

Expected. The American Nazi Party (demoRAT) has been hamstrung for the time being. And there is some semblance of reconstruction of law and order on the horizon.

Americans always get complacent at such times as these. Bad move.

Satan, the force behind all things "liberal", is raging. His disciples (democratic party) are capable of anything and we need to be prepared.

[Quickgun]

Not too sure Trump has caused the drop any more than inflation. Lots of people just don’t have the disposable income to purchase another firearm at the moment. It’s probable true that at least some of those folks would have bought something if Biden had stayed in office, even if it had meant sacrificing somewhere else. (Of course for true gun enthusiasts, affordability never enters the equation..:) )

[marktwain]

A fair amount of the market may be close to saturation...

[Hot Tabasco]

One can only afford so many firearms.

[Lurker]

I did my part. Got a Beretta A300 Patrol 12 gauge and a case of Federal LE Buckshot. Topped it with a Holosun green dot optic.

Sweet shotgun.

L

[marktwain]

If you get a chance to pattern it at 25 yards, I’d be curious about the results.

[Lurker]

I did pattern it at 21 yards with a variety of loads from #8 to 00. All the 00 was on target and predictably the #8 was a wee bit wider. Covered center mass of a B-7 quite well with some missing entirely.

It shoots a variety of 1 oz slugs quite accurately at that distance. Once I had the optic dialed in I was impressed.

It’s a joy to shoot. Recoil is manageable even with slugs. It will shoot faster than I can keep it on target. The piston system ran flawlessly. No. FTF or FTE at all.

For the price it’s probably the best combat auto loading shotgun on the market.

L

[marktwain]

I have had excellent results with the Federal FlightControl buckshot loads.

Are those the Federal loads you obtained?

[9YearLurker]

Complacent already?

[Lurker]

I believe they are. They’re marked Federal Premium LE.

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

L

[mythenjoseph]

Biggest jump in sales was when sotoreo rigged his 2nd term . I truly loathe that individual and the damage he has done .

[marktwain]

[Myrddin]

I just stashed my dividend checks and waited patiently for my range to have a Smith & Wesson Day. My muse was in stock for over $100 less than the regular street price and there was a rebate for a Viridian green dot sight. I'm waiting on S&W to make good on the rebate. I would have spent money on a green dot sight anyway, but it would have pushed my acceptable spending on the pistol down.

[Steven Scharf]

So what is the headline

Gun Sales Drop, Trump Economy Is Destroying Everything

or

Gun Sales Drop, Citizens Feel Safer With Trump In Charge

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Gun control Democrats are much better firearms salesmen. Also, Trump is getting rid of many very dangerous criminals. People have somewhat less fear of being a victim today. There are still many left to remove, but the trend is there. People can see that their cities are getting safer with the mass deportation of illegal alien criminals.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

I am still doing my part to buck the declining trend. Wink.

[Scrambler Bob]

CA just added additional 11% on top for firearms and ammo.

Don’t know how that has affected sales.

One shop owner said that it increased the griping level.

[Lurker]

That’s it.

L