NSSF® tracks and reports monthly U.S. import units for several sporting arms, ammunition, and optics categories from the US International Trade Commission. Below are the results for May 2024 compared to May 2023.

• May Handgun imports decreased 1.7 percent from 358,819 to 352,577 units. Within the handgun category, Pistol import units rose 2.5 percent from 319,629 to 327,708 units while imported Revolver units decreased 36.1 percent from 38,893 to 24,869 units.
• May Rifle imports were down 5.1 percent from 106,832 to 101,333 units. This category has been adjusted to exclude HTS codes 9303.30.4010 & 9303.30.8005 (Telescopic Sights Imported with Rifles).
• May Shotgun category posted a 4.0 percent decrease in imported units from 97,665 to 93,741.
• May Muzzleloader category decreased 26.4 percent from 24,228 to 17,829 units.
• May Other Cartridges (excluding Shotgun cartridges) category increased 8.5 percent from 281.9 million to 305.8 million units.
• May Shotgun Cartridges category decreased by 15.1 percent dropping to 45.2 million units as compared to last year’s 53.2 million.
• Telescopic Sights:
  • May Telescopic sights with rifles (HTS codes 9303.30.4010 and HTS 9303.30.8005, defined as telescopic sights or other optical devices suitable for use with arms, if mounted on a firearm or entered with the firearm on which they are designed to be mounted) decreased 27.2 percent from 2,722 units to 1,982.
  • May Telescopic sights for rifles (HTS code 9013.10.1000, defined as telescopic sights for rifles not designed for use with infrared light) increased 67.1 percent from 148,290 units to 248,802.
  • May Telescopic sights for rifles (HTS code 9013.10.3000, defined as telescopic sights for rifles not elsewhere specified or included [NESOI]) dropped 34.3 percent from 95,610 units to 62,775.
• Binoculars:
  • May Prism Binoculars [not for use with infrared light] (HTS code 9005.10.0040) decreased 19.0 percent from 181,041 units to 215,376.
  • May Binoculars HTS code 9005.10.0080 [Other Binoculars, NESOI] decreased 33.7 percent from 128,740 units to 85,311.
• May Hunting Knives (with fixed blades and wood handles) category dropped 25.9 percent from 28,225 units to 220,905 units.

Source: US International Trade Commission

Notice: The import and export data on DataWeb for 2021-2023 have been updated as of July 1, 2024 based on the latest official revisions from the Census Bureau (the first official revisions for 2024 data will not be available until June 2025). For the years 2010-2023 data reflect all published revisions by the Census Bureau. For data prior to 2010, DataWeb will continue to show import and export data as originally issued by the Census Bureau with no revisions.

Additional firearm import/export data, including monthly historical data and charts for each category, is available to NSSF members by logging in and clicking NSSF Industry Research then Monthly Firearm Import/Export Data.