June 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 June 2023 compared to June 2022.

  • June Handgun imports decreased 0.8 percent from 338,761 to 335,935 units. Within the handgun category, Pistol import units dropped 5.3 percent from 310,933 to 294,424 units while imported Revolver units increased 49.2 percent from 27,828 to 41,511 units.
    In the second quarter, handgun imports dropped 13.7 percent from 1,214,805 to 1,048,340 units.
  • June Rifle imports were up 43.2 percent from 94,284 to 135,024 units. This category has been adjusted to exclude HTS codes 9303.30.4010 & 9303.30.8005 (Telescopic Sights Imported with Rifles).
    Imported rifle units for the second quarter increased a total of 6.5 percent from 310,217 units to 330,380.
  • June Shotgun category posted a 29.8 percent decrease in imported units from 114,137 to 80,081.
    Shotgun imports were down in the second quarter from 349,679 to 263,033 units – a decrease of 24.8 percent.
  • June Muzzleloader category decreased 6.7 percent from 30,105 to 28,077 units.
    For muzzleloaders, second quarter import units dropped 4.0 percent from 60,592 to 58,172.
  • June Other Cartridges (excluding Shotgun cartridges) category decreased 28.2 percent from 383.1 million to 274.9 million units.
    Second quarter imports of Other Cartridges in 2022 decreased by 17.0 percent from 930.6 million units to 772.1 million units.
  • June Shotgun Cartridges category increased by 8.5 percent rising to 44.8 million units as compared to last year’s 41.3 million.
    The total 2022 second quarter Shotgun Cartridge units imported were up 13.5 percent from 123.4 million in 2022 to 140.0 million units.
  • Telescopic Sights:
    • June 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 32.8 percent from 2,895 units to 1,945.
      The 2023 second quarter total of 7,413 units imported for Telescopic sights was a decrease of 22.5 percent compared to the 9,561 units imported in 2022.
    • June Telescopic sights for rifles (HTS code 9013.10.1000, defined as telescopic sights for rifles not designed for use with infrared light) decreased 21.0 percent from 365,064 units to 288,277.
      The second quarter imported units for Telescopic sights in 2023 decreased by 38.7 percent from 1,089,947 units to 668,625.
    • June Telescopic sights for rifles (HTS code 9013.10.3000, defined as telescopic sights for rifles not elsewhere specified or included [NESOI]) dropped 19.6 percent from 71,301 units to 57,326.
      Telescopic sights for rifles imported in second quarter 2023 rose 55.9 percent from 171,527 units in 2022 to 267,398 units.
  • Binoculars:
    • June Prism Binoculars [not for use with infrared light] (HTS code 9005.10.0040) decreased 32.3 percent from 468,768 units to 317,245.
    • June Binoculars HTS code 9005.10.0080 [Other Binoculars, NESOI] decreased 48.8 percent from 279,253 units to 143,002.
    • Second quarter 2023 figures: Prism Binoculars [not for use with infrared light] (HTS code 9005100040) decreased 36.0 percent from 1,027,459 to 657,171 units. Binoculars HTS code 9005100080 [Other Binoculars, NESOI] decreased 26.6 percent from 496,876 units to 364,645 units.
  • June Hunting Knives (with fixed blades and wood handles) category dropped 66.8 percent from 101,513 units to 33,652 units.
    The total 2023 second quarter Hunting Knives (with fixed blades and wood handles) category dropped 55.7 percent from 182,839 units to 81,089 units.

Source: US International Trade Commission