The suppressor business is having the biggest year in its history. Two federal changes drove it: the NFA tax on suppressors dropped from $200 to $0 on January 1, 2026, and on October 9, ATF stopped enforcing NFA approval and registration for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and “any other weapons.”
The numbers show how fast demand moved.
What the data shows
- NFA background checks more than doubled. According to NSSF’s analysis of FBI data, NFA-related background checks reached 149,614 in September 2026, up 129% from 65,273 in September 2025.
- Registrations passed 1.1 million for the year. NSSF obtained ATF records through a Freedom of Information Act request showing more than 1.1 million suppressors registered so far in 2026, about 22% of the roughly 4.9 million suppressors on ATF’s books, as first reported by The Reload.
- The rest of the market is flat. Overall NSSF-adjusted background checks for firearm sales fell 2.3% in September compared with a year earlier. The growth is concentrated in NFA items.
Supply is struggling to keep up
Manufacturers report strong orders following ATF’s October guidance. At the NASGW Expo in Phoenix this month, Andy Eff of Banish Suppressors told Shooting News Weekly that sales were substantial and that new orders would take about two weeks to fill despite round-the-clock production. Other reports of industry-wide sellouts rely on unnamed sources and should be treated with caution until manufacturers confirm them.
Why the data is about to get harder to read
Most suppressor statistics come from NFA registrations and NFA background checks. Since October 9, registration is voluntary for suppressors and the other covered categories. Buyers who skip it will not show up in ATF’s registry counts.
That means future registry numbers could fall even if sales keep rising. Anyone reporting on suppressor demand from now on, including us, will need other sources: manufacturer statements, distributor data and dealer surveys.
What to watch at SHOT Show 2027
Expect suppressor makers to use SHOT Show in January to talk about production capacity, new models aimed at first-time buyers, and products for short-barreled rifles. Fully Loaded Clip will be on the floor asking how they plan to meet demand, and what they expect if federal policy changes again.
