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The firearm market remained steady in September, but the real headline came from the National Firearms Act side of the industry.
According to the latest figures from NSSF, NFA-related background checks reached 149,614 during September 2026. That represents a 129.2% increase from the 65,273 checks recorded in September 2025.
The monthly NFA figure includes checks associated with Form 1 and Form 4 applications. Those forms cover several regulated items and activities, although NSSF points to growing suppressor demand as a major factor behind the increase.
Suppressor Interest Drives NFA Growth
“Law-abiding gun owners continue to make substantial investments in firearm suppressors, at a rate of over 129 percent from a year ago,” said Mark Oliva, NSSF’s managing director of public affairs.
Oliva attributed the growth to the removal of the tax stamp fees previously required to obtain suppressors at retail. NSSF is also continuing to press Congress to pass the Hearing Protection Act, which would remove suppressors from the NFA and allow them to be purchased through the standard background-check process used for firearms.
Texas led the country with 18,852 NFA checks during September. Florida followed with 11,771, while Georgia recorded 7,337. North Carolina was close behind with 7,336, and Pennsylvania rounded out the top five with 6,102.
NSSF will begin distributing its monthly NFA numbers through a separate report beginning with October’s data, scheduled for release in November. The organization says the new format will provide more detail about Form 1 and Form 4 activity.
Adjusted NICS Checks Remain Above 1.1 Million
The September 2026 NSSF-adjusted NICS total came in at 1,152,077. That was 2.3% lower than the 1,179,424 adjusted checks recorded in September 2025.
The unadjusted FBI total was 1,843,700, a 0.8% decline from September 2025.
Despite the monthly dip, the broader quarterly numbers moved in the opposite direction. Adjusted checks reached 3,329,270 during the third quarter of 2026, an increase of 2.5% from the same quarter last year.
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Texas, Florida, California, Pennsylvania and Virginia generated the most adjusted checks during the month.
These figures should not be read as a direct count of firearm sales. A single background check can involve more than one firearm, and certain qualifying permits allow buyers in some states to complete lawful transfers without an additional NICS check. NSSF removes permit-related checks and rechecks from the FBI total to offer a clearer view of current firearm-market activity.
The takeaway is fairly straightforward: firearm-related checks continue to hold above 1.1 million per month, while interest in NFA items, particularly suppressors, is rising sharply.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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