Firearms Manufacturers NAICS 332994

Jan 5, 2026 - Faster Growth Forecast

• The US firearms manufacturers industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% between 2025 and 2029, faster than the overall economy's anticipated growth, according to an updated forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. Consumer sentiment is expected to improve in the forecast period, which bodes well for the durable goods manufacturing industries, including firearms manufacturers. A factor that may curb consumer spending is substantially higher tariffs on consumer goods, which may be painful for households. The forecast noted that a tighter immigration policy could limit the expansion of the labor supply and job growth for durable goods manufacturing industries. However, labor productivity could still improve due to new technologies such as AI and 3-D printing, as well as adjustments forced by the pandemic.
• Firearms manufacturing, included in the fabricated metal products manufacturing category, is one of the 15 manufacturing industries reporting contraction in December’s Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. Fabricated metal products manufacturers reported a decline in new orders, a decrease in production, lower employment, slower supplier deliveries, lower inventories, and higher prices for raw materials. Additional industries reporting contraction were Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Wood Products; Textile Mills; Paper Products; Chemical Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Primary Metals; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Plastics & Rubber Products; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Transportation Equipment. Manufacturing industries reporting growth during the period were Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Computer & Electronic Products. Overall, economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted for the 10th consecutive month in December, with the Manufacturing PMI registering 47.9%.

• A new law signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2025 bans new sales of semi-automatic handguns, specifically Glock-style models with cruciform trigger bars, that can be easily modified into fully automatic weapons, according to the Desert Sun. Effective July 1, 2026, California’s Assembly Bill 1127 exempts law enforcement and private party transfers but restricts future dealer sales. For firearms manufacturers, particularly Glock and similar producers, the legislation poses significant market disruption in one of the nation’s largest states. Lawmakers argue manufacturers failed to redesign products despite long-standing concerns over illegal conversions. The ban could pressure manufacturers to alter designs or face exclusion from California’s retail market. The National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups are suing California over the law, calling it unconstitutional. The law underscores growing regulatory scrutiny and may influence future design standards and compliance strategies across the firearms manufacturing sector.
• The volume of firearm background checks, an indicator of gun sales, fell by 13.6% for the week leading up to and including Black Friday, November 28, 2025, year over year, according to SGB Media. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)-adjusted National Instant Background Check System (NICS) verifications for the sale of a firearm at retail totaled 530,156 during the period, compared to 613,380 in 2024. According to the report, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data does not directly reflect arms sales but offers a view of current market conditions.