The NSSF tracks and reports monthly gun, ammo, optics, and hunting knife imports from overseas by crunching data from the U.S. International Trade Commission. This data runs a couple of months behind because, well, the government runs a couple of months behind.
However, by comparing the most recent figures– those from April 2022– with the same month in 2021, a few interesting things emerge about the industry.
While April Handgun imports increased 4.2 percent from 452,378 to 471,589 units, and April Rifle imports were up 9.1 percent from 96,197 to 104,995 units, the April Shotgun category posted a 60 percent decrease in imported units from 316,491 to 126,677. This means the oversaturated market may finally get a breather from the deluge of low-quality Chinese and Turkish-made shotguns that are currently being clearanced out everywhere.
In unwelcome news, the number of Cartridges (excluding Shotgun shells) decreased 27.3 percent from 439.2 million to 319.1 million units while Shotgun shells likewise dropped 18 percent to 39.8 million units as compared to last year’s 48.5 million. While demand is still sky high, it is possible this drop came as Europe and Asia are selling and donating more shipments of popular ammo calibers to Ukraine– as well as keeping more for their own potential domestic needs.
For those curious, the assorted Telescopic Sight categories all dropped slightly (around 8-9 percent) while the April Hunting Knives (with fixed blades and wood handles) category dropped 79.9 percent from 121,347 units to 24,410 units. With that, it is likely there will be fewer “Scream” style blades at your local sporting goods retailer this season.
By Michael Crites
Michael Crites has served as executive editor of AmericanFirearms.org since 2016 and previously held positions as associate editor and range correspondent dating back to 2000. He discovered his passion for precision shooting at age 12 during his first visit to his grandfather's shooting range, eventually earning an Expert classification in three different shooting disciplines before age 18.
During his studies at University of Wyoming, he earned four varsity letters on the collegiate rifle and pistol teams, serving as team captain for three consecutive years. He became the first UW student to complete the NRA Range Safety Officer certification while maintaining full-time student status. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Communications.
His diverse career has included roles as Range Safety Coordinator for the National Rifle Championships in Camp Perry 2001; editor-in-chief, Precision Shooter Quarterly; series editor, Modern Firearms Handbook collection; managing editor, National Shooting Sports Foundation Newsletter; editor, Competitive Shooter Magazine; operations director for Western Arms & Ammunition Co.; senior editor for the Shooter's Reference Annual (Cheyenne); content director for The Firearms Report, published by the American Shooting Coalition in Billings, MT; firearms correspondent for Hunting & Shooting, produced by Outdoor Sports Media Group in Jackson, WY; and publisher for Wyoming Shooting Sports Journal in Casper. He has contributed as a regular columnist for American Rifleman (NRA Publications), technical editor for Precision, a publication of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association (Phoenix, AZ); and as firearms specialist for the Gun Owner's Annual.
As a digital content creator, he has written more than 400 articles on AmericanFirearms.org, developed shooting technique coverage for the Brownells Shooting Blog (Montezuma, IA) and Federal Premium "Range Notes" platform (Anoka, MN), and served as lead content strategist for International Defensive Pistol Association (Berryville, AR). Beyond Tactical Firearms, his current endeavors include content development for the Wyoming State Rifle Association (Cheyenne, WY) and technical manual production for High Plains Publishing of Laramie, WY.
He has contributed to the 12th, 13th, and 14th editions of Modern Sporting Rifles Guide and edited The Complete Guide to Tactical Shooting and Competitive Shooter's Reference Manual (Gun Digest Books).
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