Short Answer: The ATF’s 2025 Firearms Commerce Report brings together figures on firearm production, international trade, federal firearms licenses, and National Firearms Act activity. Here are the key metrics for 2024 from this report:
- U.S. manufacturers reported 9,474,540 firearms manufactured in 2024, compared with 9,772,259 in 2023. That represents a 3.0% decline.
- Approximately 42.5% of the total firearms manufactured were pistols, with a total of 4,025,829 pistols.
- There was an 8% decrease in firearm imports compared to 2023, although shotgun imports grew 14.2%.
- Manufacturer’s exports decreased by 16.5%, with the largest decrease from pistols (-18.12%) and rifles (-20.25%).
- In 2024, ATF dealer licenses (Type 01) decreased by 5% compared to 2023, but manufacturer licenses (Type 07) grew by 2.9% over the same period.
- Type 07 Licenses have grown by over 126% since 2013.
- Firearms processed under Form 4 increased 76.9% in 2024 compared to 2023, totaling 833,488 firearms.
- The report lists $145.1 million in NFA transfer tax revenue, a 51.1% increase from 2023.
The ATF’s Firearms Commerce in the United States: Annual Statistical Update 2025 offers FFLs insight into changes across the firearms industry and highlight the value of accurate recordkeeping, regulatory compliance, and tools like FastBound that help dealers manage their compliance responsibilities
Source note: Industry figures come from Exhibits 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 10 of the ATF report. Percentage changes and shares were calculated from the published figures and rounded to one decimal place.
U.S. Firearm Manufacturing Declined but Remained Above 2019 Levels
U.S. firearm manufacturing declined 3.0% in 2024, with manufacturers reporting 9,474,540 firearms compared to 9,772,259 in 2023. That’s a decrease of 297,719 firearms, according to the ATF’s 2025 Firearms Commerce Report.
The decline is part of a larger trend. Manufacturing peaked at 13.8 million firearms in 2021 before falling over the next three years. Despite this drop, 2024 manufacturing levels remained 35.1% higher than in 2019, when manufacturers reported just over 7 million firearms.
These figures show that while U.S. firearm manufacturing has slowed from its 2021 peak, production reported in 2024 remained well above pre-2020 levels.
Note: ATF manufacturing figures reflect firearms manufactured and distributed into commerce, including firearms produced for export and purchased by domestic law enforcement. They exclude U.S. military production and do not represent retail firearm sales to U.S. consumers. Firearms are counted in the year they enter commerce, which may differ from the year they were manufactured.
Although total U.S. firearm manufacturing declined in 2024, production trends varied by firearm type. Pistols remained the largest manufacturing category, increasing 2.2% to 4,025,829 firearms and accounting for approximately 42.5% of total production.
Other firearm categories experienced different changes:
- Revolvers: Declined 20.5% to 639,742 firearms, the largest percentage drop of any category.
- Rifles: Fell 9.5% to 2,823,770 firearms, the largest numerical decrease at 295,606 fewer firearms.
- Shotguns: Decreased slightly by 0.5% to 599,775 firearms.
- Miscellaneous firearms: Increased 6.1% to 1,385,424 firearms, including categories such as pistol grip firearms, starter guns, and firearm frames and receivers.
Pistols and miscellaneous firearms were the only categories to record manufacturing increases in 2024. However, those gains were not enough to offset declines in rifles, revolvers, and shotguns, contributing to the overall 3.0% drop in U.S. firearm manufacturing.
U.S. Firearm Imports and Exports Declined in 2024
Firearm Imports Fell 8.0%, Despite Growth in Shotguns
U.S. firearm imports declined 8.0% in 2024, falling from 5,933,210 firearms in 2023 to 5,457,760, according to the ATF’s 2025 Firearms Commerce Report.
The decline was driven by fewer handgun and rifle imports:
- Handguns: Decreased 13.4% to 3,282,419 firearms, the largest decline among import categories.
- Rifles: Fell 9.4% to 1,053,626 firearms.
Shotguns were the only category to report growth. Imports increased by 139,141 firearms, even as domestic shotgun manufacturing declined slightly by 0.5%. However, this growth was not enough to offset the overall decline in firearm imports.
Interestingly, the report shows that ATF importation applications increased 17.6% in fiscal 2024, rising from 11,717 to 13,777, even as the total number of firearms imported declined during calendar year 2024. These figures show that application activity and import volumes moved in different directions, although they measure different activities and reporting periods.
Firearm Exports Declined 16.5%
U.S. firearms manufacturers exported 399,902 firearms in 2024, down from 479,033 in 2023. This represents a 16.5% decrease, or 79,131 fewer firearms exported.
Export trends varied across firearm categories:
- Rifles: Declined 20.3% to 158,500 firearms, the largest decrease in both percentage and total units.
- Pistols: Fell 18.1% to 178,248 firearms.
- Revolvers: Decreased 17.4% to 10,000 firearms.
- Shotguns: Increased 5.5% to 47,556 firearms.
- Miscellaneous firearms: Rose 3.8% to 5,598 firearms.
Shotguns and miscellaneous firearms were the only categories to record export growth in 2024. However, declines in rifle, pistol, and revolver exports contributed to the overall reduction in U.S. firearms manufacturers’ exports.
Dealer Licenses Declined While Manufacturer Licenses Increased
The number of active federal firearms licenses (FFLs) fell 2.8% in fiscal 2024, declining from 132,383 to 128,690. However, licensing trends varied by business type, with dealer licenses declining while firearm manufacturer licenses increased.
The largest changes included:
- Type 01 (Firearm Dealers): Declined 5.0%, from 50,309 to 47,776 active licenses, a decrease of 2,533.
- Type 07 (Firearm Manufacturers): Increased 2.9%, from 20,003 to 20,578 licenses.
- Type 02 (Pawnbrokers): Fell 4.2%, from 6,417 to 6,149 licenses.
- Type 03 (Collectors): Declined 2.2%, from 50,805 to 49,689 licenses.
Other categories showed mixed results. Type 06 ammunition manufacturer and Type 08 importer licenses declined, while Type 10 destructive device manufacturer and Type 11 importer licenses increased.
One of the biggest long-term changes was the growth in Type 07 firearm manufacturer licenses. The number more than doubled between fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2024, increasing from 9,094 to 20,578, a gain of 126.3%.
What These Licensing Trends Mean for FFLs
The licensing figures show that the number of firearm manufacturers with active licenses continued to grow even as total reported firearm manufacturing declined. However, license counts do not measure individual business activity, production volume, or firearm sales.
For FFLs, these trends highlight the importance of managing compliance requirements as business operations change. Dealers and manufacturers have different recordkeeping and reporting responsibilities, and businesses must maintain accurate acquisition and disposition records based on their licensed activities.
FFL compliance software like FastBound helps licensed businesses manage firearm records, track inventory, and maintain the documentation required under federal firearms regulations.
NFA Firearm Processing Increased 33.9% in FY2024
ATF processed 4,732,203 National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms in fiscal 2024, a 33.9% increase from 3,533,533 in fiscal 2023. However, processing trends varied considerably by form type.
The largest changes included:
- Form 4 (Transfers and Registration): Increased 76.9%, from 471,239 to 833,488 firearms, the largest percentage increase among the form categories.
- Form 3 (Tax-Exempt Transfers Between SOTs): Rose 70.3%, from 872,406 to 1,485,286 firearms.
- Form 1 (Making and Registration): Declined 68.1%, from 284,533 to 90,758 firearms.
Other categories also experienced changes. Firearms processed under Forms 2 and 5 increased, while Form 9 processing declined.
The ATF report also lists 12.2 million registered NFA weapons as of June 2026, including more than 6.3 million silencers. Silencers represented approximately 52.1% of all registered NFA weapons, making them the largest category in the registry. These totals provide additional context on the size of the NFA registry beyond annual form processing figures.
Overall NFA processing increased substantially in the 2024 fiscal year, even as Form 1 activity dropped. These figures measure firearms processed under each form type, not individual applications or buyers, and do not establish the reasons behind the changes.
NFA Transfer and Making Tax Revenue Increased 51.1%
NFA transfer and making tax revenue rose from $96 million in fiscal 2023 to $145.1 million in fiscal 2024, a 51.1% increase.
Special occupational tax revenue also increased, rising from $10.1 million to $10.4 million, or approximately 3.0%. ATF notes that these collections can include payments for previous tax years.
Note: These figures reflect historical tax collections, not current NFA tax obligations. Under ATF guidance issued October 9, 2026, the agency no longer enforces certain NFA approval, registration, and tax-stamp requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and any other weapons. Machine guns and destructive devices remain subject to NFA requirements, and applicable special occupational taxes remain in effect.
What Are The Key Takeaways for FFLs From the 2025 ATF Firearms Commerce Report?
The ATF’s 2025 Firearms Commerce Report highlights several changes in U.S. firearm manufacturing, trade, licensing, and NFA activity. The most important findings for federal firearms licensees (FFLs) are:
- Firearm manufacturing declined 3.0%: U.S. manufacturers reported 9.47 million firearms in 2024, down from 9.77 million in 2023. However, pistol manufacturing increased 2.2%, and total production remained 35.1% above 2019 levels.
- Firearm imports and exports decreased: Imports fell 8.0%, while manufacturers’ exports declined 16.5%. Shotguns were an exception, with imports increasing 14.2% and exports rising 5.5%.
- Active FFL licenses declined 2.8%: Type 01 dealer licenses fell 5.0%, while Type 07 firearm manufacturer licenses increased 2.9%. This shows how licensing trends differed across business types.
- NFA firearm processing increased 33.9%: Form 4 processing rose 76.9%, and Form 3 processing increased 70.3%, while Form 1 processing declined 68.1%.
- NFA tax revenue increased: Transfer and making tax collections rose 51.1% to $145.1 million in fiscal 2024, reflecting historical collections rather than current tax requirements.
Manage Your Firearm Records With FastBound
The 2025 ATF Firearms Commerce Report highlights changes across the firearms industry, but one responsibility remains the same for federal firearms licensees: maintaining accurate records and meeting applicable ATF compliance requirements.
FastBound provides FFL compliance software designed to help firearm dealers, manufacturers, importers, and other licensees manage their day-to-day recordkeeping responsibilities. With FastBound, FFLs can:
- Manage electronic acquisition and disposition (A&D) records to track firearm transactions and maintain organized bound books.
- Complete electronic ATF Form 4473 with built-in checks that help reduce missing information and common errors.
- Track firearm inventory and transfers while maintaining accurate transaction histories.
- Prepare for ATF inspections with accessible records, audit trails, and compliance warnings.
As the firearms industry changes, having a reliable recordkeeping system helps FFLs reduce manual work and maintain consistent compliance practices.
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Try for Free!FAQs
Although published in 2025, the report primarily includes firearm manufacturing, import, export, licensing, and NFA activity data through 2024. Some tables use calendar-year data, while others report fiscal-year or tax-year figures. FFLs should check the reporting period before comparing statistics.
Not necessarily. The report measures firearms manufactured and distributed into commerce, not retail sales to consumers. Although manufacturing declined 3.0% in 2024, these figures alone cannot determine whether individual firearm dealers experienced lower sales.
Type 07 manufacturer licenses increased 2.9% in fiscal 2024, even as domestic firearm manufacturing declined 3.0% during calendar year 2024. The report does not explain the reasons for this difference. An increase in active manufacturer licenses does not necessarily mean higher production, since license counts do not measure how many firearms each manufacturer produces.
The report shows that NFA firearms processed increased 33.9% in fiscal 2024, with substantial increases in Form 3 and Form 4 activity. These figures reflect historical processing activity and do not establish changes to individual FFL compliance obligations. Licensees should follow current ATF guidance and applicable federal regulations when handling NFA firearms.
No. The report is a statistical publication that tracks firearms industry activity, not a new regulation or compliance rule. FFLs must continue following applicable federal recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including maintaining accurate acquisition and disposition records and completing Form 4473 when required.