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 March 2023 compared to March 2022. Additionally, in the first quarter (January-March) 2023, total units imported in the four sporting arms categories dropped 25.0 percent while the two ammunition categories decreased 40.7 percent over the same time period in 2022.
March Handgun imports decreased 14.8 percent from 459,928 to 391,649 units. Within the handgun category, Pistol import units dropped 16.7 percent from 426,465 to 355,053 units while imported Revolver units increased 9.4 percent from 33,463 to 36,596 units.
First quarter handgun imports dropped 24.6 percent from 1,220,855 to 920,047 units.
March Rifle imports were up 4.6 percent from 92,584 to 96,807 units. This category has been adjusted to exclude HTS codes 9303304010 & 9303308005 (Telescopic Sights Imported with Rifles).
Imported rifle units for the first quarter decreased a total of 8.0 percent from 265,096 units to 243,788.
March Shotgun category posted a 32.9 percent decrease in imported units from 116,291 to 78,002.Shotgun imports were down in the first quarter from 402,755 to 231,450 units – a decrease of 42.5 percent.
March Muzzleloader category increased 137.7 percent from 9,733 to 23,135 units. For muzzleloaders, first quarter imported units rose 57.0 percent from 26,458 to 41,539.
March Other Cartridges (excluding Shotgun cartridges) category decreased 43.4 percent from 376.9 million to 213.2 million units.
First quarter imports of Other Cartridges in 2023 decreased by 43.2 percent from 1.0 billion units to 593.3 million units.
March Shotgun Cartridges category decreased by 23.2 percent dropping to 31.5 million units as compared to last year’s 41.0 million.
The total 2023 first quarter Shotgun Cartridge units imported were down 14.8 percent from 99.9 million in 2022 to 85.1 million units.
Telescopic Sights:
March Telescopic sights with rifles (HTS codes 9303304010 and HTS 9303308005, 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 72.6 percent from 4,180 units to 1,145.
The 2023 first quarter total of 6,137 units imported for Telescopic sights was a decrease of 38.3 percent compared to the 9,943 units imported in 2022.
March Telescopic sights for rifles (HTS code 9013101000, defined as telescopic sights for rifles not designed for use with infrared light) decreased 56.9 percent from 481,534 units to 207,676.
The first quarter imported units for Telescopic sights in 2023 decreased by 52.8 percent from 1.2 million units to 558.3 million.
March Telescopic sights for rifles (HTS code 9013103000, defined as telescopic sights for rifles not elsewhere specified or included [NESOI]) dropped 1.3 percent from 83,770 units to 82,705.
Telescopic sights for rifles imported in the first quarter 2023 rose by 7.1 percent from 208,604 units in 2022 to 223,428 units.
Binoculars:
March Prism Binoculars [not for use with infrared light] (HTS code 9005100040) decreased 66.7 percent from 323,153 units to 107,654.
March Binoculars HTS code 9005100080 [Other Binoculars, NESOI] decreased 35.2 percent from 112,849 units to 73,097.
First quarter 2023 figures: Prism Binoculars [not for use with infrared light] (HTS code 9005100040) decreased 43.4 percent from 827,091 to 467,958. Binoculars HTS code 9005100080 [Other Binoculars, NESOI] decreased 42.5 percent from 548,442 units to 315,174 units.
Hunting Knives (with fixed blades and wood handles) category dropped by 85.2 percent from 128,308 units to 18,953 units.
The total first quarter 2023 Hunting Knives (with fixed blades and wood handles) category decreased 53.3 percent from 251,218 units to 117,197 units.
