NICS Numbers for March Show Gun Sales Continue to Slide

AmmoLand ^ | April 9, 2025 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

The adjusted firearm sales for March 2025 are the eighth highest in the 26-year history of the National Instant Background Check System (NICS), administered by the FBI. The numbers before 2016 are not as accurate because the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) started adjusting the number to account for the large number of firearm permit checks and rechecks in 2016.

No permit rechecks were entered before 2016, and total permit checks were less than 10 million a year. Permit and permit rechecks peaked at about 20 million a year in 2021. Illinois alone had almost 8 million permit and permit rechecks in 2021. In 2022, Illinois reformed its check and recheck law. The number of permit and permit rechecks in Illinois dropped to 4 million.

The 2.58 million NICS checks in March 2025 are the lowest number of checks done in March since March 2017, when the number of checks was 2.43 million.

The adjusted NICS chart for 26 years shows the number of gun sales has been on a downward slide since 2020. The numbers are reasonably high if the 2020 election year and the four years of the Biden administration are seen as an historical anomaly. The perception of losing the Republic to a perpetual “deep state” oligarchy was the greatest in those four years out of the last hundred or more years.

The March 2025 numbers show 68 consecutive months of firearm sales over one million, as adjusted by the NSSF.  Overall firearm sales for March 2025 are about 96% of those a year ago, in March 2024. Handgun sales are down a little, and long gun sales dropped a little more. Sales of “other”, which are believed to primarily be receivers which can be made into either handguns or long guns, dropped about 15%.

[marktwain]

Gun sales in March of 2025 continued over a million, but are a bit less than March of last year. Overall gun sales are becoming lower under President Trump, as Americans feel safer.

[marktwain]

[iamgalt]

We know Trump respects the 2a so the urgency to run out and get your gun isn’t there.

[Texas Fossil]

“Overall firearm sales for March 2025 are about 96% of those a year ago”

Yes, I expected firearms sales would drop some. 4% is not a big number yet.

How many consecutive months consecutive of sales of over a Million firearms have we had? Last number I read 68 months (over 5-1/2 years). (keep in mind the stock market drop)

I am still having problems with firearms related issues with the Credit Card Companies and internet connection related to reloading supply searches and (5 companies) advertising that I normally get by email that suddenly stops. (my coop telephone carrier and internet supplier was bought by a company in the EU)

[snoringbear]

States continue toward constitutional carry. I’m a Texas resident which now is a Constitutional Carry state and have a License to Carry but may not renew next time I’m due. I’ll have to think about it.

[BBQToadRibs2]

I just consider it cyclical aligned with when Democrats are in power. Democrats come into power and fears of restrictions kick in, gun sales quickly go up. Republicans come into power, a sigh of relief, concerns are alleviated, gun sales slide. I see that in my circle of family, friends, community.

[marktwain]

Yes, that is what I think is happening.

[bobbo666]

Not completely. Guns are not like toidy paper — good for more that one use.
Now, ammo. How is that trending? It does age onna shelf and if you are going to remain proficient for that horrible moment when you family’s life is on the line, yah gotta burn thru your supply.

Plus, once you have bought enough guns to defend, yah don’t need more. Only the weirdos who demand a new iPhone every year want to buy a new gun ‘cause of “new” features.

[PROCON]

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[TangoLimaSierra]

Maybe everyone is armed up and just waiting to see if the libs get froggy.

[Big Red Badger]

My Vault is FULL.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Has the price of ammo gone down yet?

[Cold Heart]

Oregonians better buy their guns if they ever want one.The state is planning some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country.

[Myrddin]

The market is pretty saturated. I've only made one purchase in the last 2 years. Not lots of innovation driving new sales. Inflation is probably reducing disposable income as well.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’ve been thinning the herd, lots of the stuff I got when I was in collector mode is going so other folks can have a turn enjoying it. Plus Not shooting as much either given ammo prices.

There isn’t much, if anything, in the new gun market that interests me.

[chrisinoc]

I’ll help April sales by trading in my Springfield XD40 and Ruger 9E for a XD9 Mod 3 and RXM.

[Myrddin]

I need to do the same for my firearms and motorcycles. I purchased most of them when I weighed 192. I could handle my big Harley bikes and big bore firearms. I've trimmed down to 150 now (since 2016) and cancer stole much of my muscle mass last year. Reducing inventory makes sense. My ham gear inventory will remain as that is a good, low stress indoor activity.

Ammo prices, range memberships and distance to the indoor range (100 miles round trip) are all factors in shooting less.

[Obadiah]

Exactly. Moreover, a lot of people spent the last 4 years stockpiling guns and ammo so it’s only natural that demand eases.

[smokingfrog]

No. Not really.

[from occupied ga]

I was so worried that the c**t would win I bought an MCX spear for$4k plus in October. Probably wouldn’t have bought it if I were sure Trump would win.