April 2023 – Firearm & Ammunition Imports

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 April 2023 compared to April 2022.

  • April Handgun imports decreased 25.0 percent from 471,589 to 353,883 units. Within the handgun category, Pistol import units dropped 27.2 percent from 437,663 to 318,589 units while imported Revolver units increased 4.0 percent from 33,926 to 35,294 units.
  • April Rifle imports were down 15.7 percent from 104,995 to 88,487 units. This category has been adjusted to exclude HTS codes 9303.30.4010 & 9303.30.8005 (Telescopic Sights Imported with Rifles).
  • April Shotgun category posted a 37.5 percent decrease in imported units from 126,677 to 79,137.
  • April Muzzleloader category decreased 36.1 percent from 15,343 to 9,807 units.
  • April Other Cartridges (excluding Shotgun cartridges) category decreased 32.6 percent from 319.1 million to 215.2 million units.
  • April Shotgun Cartridges category increased by 5.6 percent rising to 42.0 million units as compared to last year’s 39.8 million.
  • Telescopic Sights:
    • April 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 30.3 percent from 3,940 units to 2,746.
    • April Telescopic sights for rifles (HTS code 9013.10.1000, defined as telescopic sights for rifles not designed for use with infrared light) decreased 33.2 percent from 346,974 units to 231,948.
    • April Telescopic sights for rifles (HTS code 9013.10.3000, defined as telescopic sights for rifles not elsewhere specified or included [NESOI]) rose 181.1 percent from 40,724 units to 114,462.
  • Binoculars:
    • April Prism Binoculars [not for use with infrared light] (HTS code 9005.10.0040) decreased 30.2 percent from 226,426 units to 157,943.
    • April Binoculars HTS code 9005.10.0080 [Other Binoculars, NESOI] decreased 7.3 percent from 100,252 units to 92,903.
  • April Hunting Knives (with fixed blades and wood handles) category dropped 21.3 percent from 24,410 units to 19,212 units.

Source: US International Trade Commission