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August 2025 NICS Numbers | OHUB News
Football season is here, and for desperate Browns fans like me, that means a new level of seasonal depression, which signals that August has ended. With the slight chill in the air, a new month of NICS checks is upon us. July was the slowest month since 2019, with NSSF-adjusted NICS totals falling below 1 million. So, it couldn’t get any worse, right? Like the previous months, August shows a steady decline in sales when compared to previous years, but with hunting season approaching, we did see an uptick compared to July. With that, let’s dive in.
This has been an ongoing news series examining the monthly NICS numbers to gauge the industry’s temperature. So far, I’ve discussed every month since April, with each edition showing a steady decline compared to the same month in the previous year. All of which came to a head in July, but will the rest of the year rebound?
Reminders
First, the NICS check only confirms that a background check is taking place, not the number of guns listed on a 4473. It does not reflect a 1:1 ratio of firearms purchased to background checks completed.
Moreover, this figure does not include private party transfers, which are legal in many states. Additionally, twenty-four states have alternative permits that allow firearm purchases without requiring additional background checks. For instance, an updated CCW license is accepted as a replacement for a NICS check in Ohio. Keep these points in mind when examining the numbers.
How does the Number Bode?
In August 2025, firearm numbers increased back to the 1 million mark. However, at 1.09 million, that still reflects a 9.9% drop from August 2024. Excluding the NSSF-adjusted figure, the decline is 19.9%—from 2.1 million in August 2024 to 1.7 million in August 2025. People are strapped for cash in an economy where Tariff is a common buzzword.
That said, NSSF is encouraged:
“NSSF is encouraged to see the adjusted NICS background checks top 1 million in August once again,” says NSSF’s Mark Oliva. “We know there is a strong and continued interest in lawful firearm ownership and these figures bear out the truth that Second Amendment rights are valued. These figures are more than data points. They represent Americans from all walks of life who are, quite literally, investing in their safety, security, and freedom.”
Zooming Out
As sales stagnate, manufacturers and retailers are employing aggressive sales and marketing strategies to attract customers. For consumers, this translates into a buyer’s market. Many manufacturers are pushing rebates and sales incentives coming into the Fall 2025 hunting season. I expect more to come as we approach the holidays and Black Friday. If there’s a firearm you’ve been eyeing up, it might be time to act.
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Sources:
- https://www.nssf.org/
- https://www.shootingnewsweekly.com/business/august-gun-sales-climb-back-over-the-1-million-mark/
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