Firearms Industry Economic Impact Rises 371% Since 2008
The total economic impact of the firearms and ammunition industry in the United States increased from $19.1 billion in 2008 to $90.05 billion in 2023, a 371% increase, while the total number of full-time equivalent jobs rose from approximately 166,000 to over 384,437, a 131% increase in that period, according to a report released by the NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association.
On a year-over-year basis, the industry’s economic impact rose from $80.73 billion in 2022, to $90.05 billion in 2023. The firearm industry has broader impacts throughout the economy. It supports and generates business for firms seemingly unrelated to firearms, such as banking, retail, accounting, metal working, and printing among others.
Shooting Industry Generates $11.8 Billion in Tax Revenues
The firearm and ammunition industry paid over $10.90 billion in business taxes, including property, income, and sales-based levies. An additional $944 million was paid in Federal excise taxes, which directly contributes to wildlife conservation. The combined business and excise taxes adds up to a total of $11.8 billion in tax revenue!
“Our industry is a vital economic contributor to every state and every community. These are companies employing men and women from all walks of life and they prove daily that the American firearm and ammunition industry is strong”, said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “This industry proudly provides the means for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights, enables them to hunt and is the primary fiscal force behind wildlife conservation in America. The growth of the firearm industry equals more jobs that add to our local economies, averaging $67,500 in wages and benefits, up from $65,000 reported last year. Since 2008, federal business tax payments increased by 353%, Pittman-Robertson excise taxes on firearms and ammunition that support wildlife conservation by 168% and state business taxes by 215%.”
Firearms and Ammunition Industry is Vital Part of America’s Economy
Companies in the United States that manufacture, distribute, and sell firearms, ammunition, and hunting equipment employ as many as 154,611 people in the country and generate an additional 229,826 jobs in ancillary industries. These include jobs in supplying goods and services to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, and those that depend on sales to workers in the firearm and ammunition industry.
The annual Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report provides a state-by-state breakdown of job numbers, wages and output covering direct, supplier and induced employment, as well as federal excise taxes paid. CLICK HERE to get the full 7-page NSSF report (PDF).
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If you want to stay current with trends in the firearms industry, and see important new product releases before they hit dealers’ shelves, you should check out Shooting Industry magazine. While tailored for firearms/outdoor gear retailers and industry professionals, this monthly journal also provides valuable information for all gun owners. We read Shooting Industry to learn about sales trends, new products, and current gun legislation and regulatory issues.
READ for FREE — Shooting Industry is now available in a digital PDF format for FREE. There are free archives for 2023 and 2022.
Here are direct links for all seven 2023 issues, from the current July 2023 issue back through January 2023. You can also CLICK HERE to bring up a page with live links to all 2023 and 2022 Shooting Industry issues. From that landing page, for all 2022-2023 issues, simply click the link labled “Click Here to VIEW”, found below the cover shot for each issue.
Shooting Industry — July 2023 Issue
June 2023
Top Stories:
Eye & Ear Protection
The Gun Safe Market
May 2023
Top Stories:
Ammunition Market 2023
Gear for Varmint Hunters
April 2023
Top Stories:
Long-Range Precision Market
Target Cameras
March 2023
Top Stories:
2023 New Product Showcase
Top Self-Defense Products From SHOT
February 2023
Top Stories:
2023 New Product Showcase
5 Must-Have Products for Women
January 2023
Top Stories:
2023 New Product Showcase
Trendspotting — What’s Hot This Year
BONUS! FREE Content from GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner
FMG Publications, the publisher of Shooting Industry magazine, also produces the popular GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner periodicals. If you visit the respective websites for these two magazines, you will find dozen of photo-illustrated articles available for FREE online. To access, just visit the Guns Magazine home page and scroll down, or likewise visit the American Handgunner home page and scroll down the page to find many interesting articles.
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Shooting Industry magazine has released its first-ever “Safety Issue” this month (June 2023), coinciding with National Safety Month. Among the many articles in the June issue are three major features which can benefit gun owners and range operators. These articles cover Firearms Safes (large and small), Eye and Ear Protection, and general range Health and Safety procedures.
Gun Safe Trends for Large Vaults and Portable Units
In this month’s featured Gun Safes article, SI writer Shannon Farlow spoke with Stephen Hall of Lock It Up Safe Company; Brice McCunn, of Iowa Safe Company; and Larry Hyatt, president of Hyatt Guns.
SI: Which types of gun safes are the most popular these days?
Hall: In our store, we tend to divide safes in a few categories such as pistol/travel, “home safes” (which usually means 44″ and shorter, small safes (think 1–20 rifles), big safes (20+ rifles) and extra-large safes, which can have capacities of close to 100. We seem to rotate through all of them pretty consistently, but if I had to pick one that’s a bit slow it would be the medium sizes such as 60″ tall and between 36″–42″ wide. Oftentimes, I think people want something much smaller or much larger.
McCunn: In Iowa, we’ve noticed a trend of larger safes being sold. For instance, 72″ tall safes are by far the most popular for our region, but we do sell a variety of sizes.
Hyatt: Small handgun safes remain our top sellers. We use these as add-on sales for every gun sold in our store and we offer a discount at point of purchase.
SI: How popular are portable gun safes?
Hyatt: These are our top sellers by a significant margin. They are an inexpensive way to allow gun owners to secure their firearms, while still allowing easy access to them, both in the home and on the go.
Hall: Securing a firearm in a car is probably the most popular thing small handgun-style safes are utilized for. Vaultek has done a phenomenal job of addressing this with their LifePod and Barikade line of travel safes. They come in a variety of sizes, colors and features. Vaultek has biometric options along with keypad options, creating an option for most shoppers.
Eye and Ear Protection
Eye and ear protection are vital for all gun owners. And visitors to shooting ranges should rent/borrow eye and ear protection if they don’t have their own gear.
Store owners interviewed by Shooting Industry noted that safety gear sells well: “Out of all the stuff in the shop, they’re probably the easiest things to sell, maybe other than ammo,” confirmed Tim Van Leiden, owner of The Gun Guys in Kansas. Indeed, this stuff is pretty much a mandatory part of every shooter’s kit, suggests John Stephenson, general manager of Metro Shooting Supplies in Missouri. Accordingly Metro Shooting promotes eye and ear protection for all customers.
There is a trend to shooters getting electronic muffs. These offer excellent protection against high-decibel sounds while still allowing shooters to hear range commands. Plugs alone can work well, but plugs under electronic muffs may be the best option. Plugs under muffs can provide maximum sound protection (with 6-8 dB NRR better than typical muffs alone), while allowing shooters to hear instructions and communicate with fellow shooters.
Shooting Range Safety and Health Programs
In a detailed “Best Practices” artile Dale Krupinski explains how to maintain effective range safety and health programs, and keep indoor ranges safe for workers and customers. Among the key points covered in the article are:
1. Frequently inspect the shooting range for safety hazards.
2. Conduct lead dust and noise exposure tests for range workers.
3. Provide safety and health training to range managers and employees.
4. Communicate safety and health protocols to contractors working at the range.
5. Regularly verify that the safety and health programs are working as intended.
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If you want to stay current with trends in the firearms industry, and see important new product releases before they hit dealers’ shelves, you should check out Shooting Industry magazine. While tailored for firearms/outdoor gear retailers and industry professionals, this monthly journal also provides valuable information for all gun owners. We read Shooting Industry to learn about sales trends, new products, and current gun laws issues.
READ for FREE — Shooting Industry is now available in a digital format for FREE. There are free archives going back 15 years to December 2007.
Get FREE Digital Shooting Industry Magazines for the Past 15 Years
You can access, for free, 15 years of Shooting Industry back issues, plus all the recent 2022 issues. CLICK HERE for the current issue along with all issues back through January 2018. IMPORTANT — To access older issues (before 2018), you much first launch a recent digital edition. That will give you access to the full 15-year archive, as explained below.
Here are links for the most recent three issues — July 2022, June 2022, and May 2022. Simply click each cover to read full issue for FREE:
July 2022
Top Stories:
U.S. Firearms Industry Report
Shooting Ind. Buyer’s Guide
June 2022
Top Stories:
Fall Hunting Season Prep
2022 Ammo Market Report
May 2022
Top Stories:
Firearms Training Today
Advocacy on Capitol Hill
How to Access Magazine Archives Back to December 2007
Once you have launched the digital version of a recent issue, you can access the past 15 years of Shooting Industry back issues by using the ARCHIVE Button. First click on the MENU icon (three horizontal lines). Then click on the link for ARCHIVE. When you click on “Archive”, a list appears on the right. Scroll down to select any issue from July 2022 back to December 2007. Note: The index is divided, so some of the more recent Shooting Illustrated issues are found at the BOTTOM of the Archive, while others are at the top, or the middle. Be patient and look for “SIxxxx”
BONUS! FREE Back Issues of GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner
In the Shooting Industry Archives, you will also find free digital editions of GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner. These will be found in the archive tables on the right. Just look for GUNSxxxx in the list entry for GUNS Magazine back issues, or AHxxxx for American Handgunner back issues.
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Notably, over the past two decades, firearms production in the United States has tripled — from 2,911,346 in 2001, to 9,739,335 in 2020. In fact, peak production was reached in 2016, with 10,664,318 rifle, pistols, and shotguns produced. The annual production of shotguns has actually declined slightly over the past 20 years, but the production of handguns has soared. Check out this table:
In recent years, the U.S. firearms industry has been presented with unprecedented opportunities, as well as rising obstacles. Shooting Industry magazine’s annual U.S. Firearms Industry Today Report looks back to where it all began: 2020. Using the latest available data from ATF, this report delves into U.S. firearms production — revealing the top producers across all firearm categories — and includes analysis on historical NICS background check trends and the latest import/export figures.
“While 2020 represented the highest demand year, it was not … a record production year for the U.S. firearms industry”, observed SI Editor Jade Moldae. “Supply chain challenges, raw material sourcing issues, COVID-impacted shutdowns and labor shortages impacted business in 2020, to name a few.”
The firearms industry is a significant component of the U.S. national economy: “According to NSSF’s 2022 Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report, the industry’s total economic influence ballooned from $19.1 billion in 2008 to $70.52 billion in 2021, a 269% jump. Year-over-year, the industry’s economic impact rose 11.1% (from $63.5 billion in 2020).
Corresponding with a rising economic impact, the total number of full-time equivalent jobs in the industry increased from approximately 166,000 in 2008 to over 375,000 in 2020 (126% increase). From 2020 to 2021, total jobs grew from 342,330 to 375,819 (9.8%).
Highlights from the report:
• Total Firearms Production has TRIPLED since year 2001, boosted primarily with handgun sales (see chart).
• After hitting a near 10-year low in 2019, U.S. firearms production jumped 53.3% in 2020 (from 6,353,124 to 9,739,335 firearms). This was the biggest year-over-year jump since 1993, which recorded a 66.5% increase over 1992.
• A record 6,502,261 handguns were produced in the U.S. in 2020. 9mm pistol paced handgun production, with about three out of every five handguns produced in 2020 were chambered in the caliber.
• Smith & Wesson set a new benchmark in firearms production with 2,320,963 firearms, while Ruger (1,659,324) and SIG SAUER (1,077,019) passed the 1 million mark.
SHOT Show 2022 is one week away. The 2022 event kicks off with Media Day at the Range on Monday, January 17, 2022. Then the indoor event runs Tuesday the 18th through Friday the 21st. There will be over 2300 exhibitors from all 50 states and 78 nations. This year will see the biggest show ever in terms of floor space. SHOT Show occupies TWO large exhibit halls in 2022 — the Venetian Expo and the brand new Caesars Forum. Total exhibit space for the 2022 show in these two venues is more than 800,000 net square feet — equivalent to more than 18 acres (about 14 football field). And with these twin halls, SHOT Show boasts 13.9 miles of aisles!
SHOT Show FACTS AND FIGURES
– The “SHOT” in SHOT® Show stands for Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade.
— SHOT Show 2022 will have 800,000 square feet of Exhibit Space with 13.9 MILES of Aisles. The floor space is equivalent to 14 football fields.
— 2022 SHOT Show will have more than 2,300 exhibitors, including the Suppliers Showcase.
— More than 55,000 professionals in the shooting, hunting, outdoors and law enforcement industry are expected to attend, along with 2000+ media members.
— Firearms and ammunition are a $7.1 billion industry. The total economic impact of the gun/ammo/hunting industry is more than $63 billion, which supports more than 342,000 jobs.
— SHOT Show generates millions of dollars in revenue to fund NSSF programs including Firearms Training programs, Project ChildSafe, National Shooting Sports Month, and the +ONE mentoring initiative.
— This is the 44th Annual SHOT Show and the 23rd in Las Vegas. The first SHOT Show was in 1979 in St. Louis, Missouri. The 2021 show was virtual due to the pandemic. Las Vegas has been home to the show continuously since 2010.
Biggest SHOT Show Ever — 800,000 Square Feet of Products
Based on current bookings, SHOT Show 2022 will encompass over 800,000 net square feet. To put it into perspective, the largest SHOT Show on record, the 2008 event, encompassed 714,000 net square feet at the Las Vegas Convention Center. That year outdoor tents needed to be added to fill overflow exhibit space. You can view the 2022 SHOT Show layout here:
Click image for full floor-plan with Level 1, Level 2, and Supplier Showcase.
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READ for FREE — Shooting Industry is now available in a digital format for FREE. There are free archives going back 14 years to December 2007.
If you want to stay current with trends in the firearms industry, and see important new product releases before they hit dealers’ shelves, you should check out Shooting Industry magazine. While tailored for firearms/outdoor gear retailers and industry professionals, this monthly journal also provides valuable info for all gun owners. We read Shooting Industry to learn about sales trends and current gun law issues. And every issue showcases NEW PRODUCTS. For example, here is a cool new CZ 457 LRP in the October New Product Feature:
Get FREE Digital Shooting Industry Magazines for the Past 13 Years
You can access, for free, 14 years of Shooting Industry back issues, plus all the recent 2021 issues. CLICK HERE for the current issue along with all issues for the previous three years: 2018, 2019, 2020. IMPORTANT — To access older issues, you much first launch a recent digital edition. That will give you access to the full 14-year archive, as explained below.
Here are links for the most recent three issues — October 2021, September 2021, and Augusts 2021. Simply click each cover to read full issue for FREE:
October 2021
Top Stories:
Notable New Handguns
Shotguns — Defense/Sport
Women’s Hunting Apparel
September 2021
Top Stories:
Gun Safes
Black Powder Guns
Vintage Firearm Market
August 2021
Top Stories:
Home Defense Long Guns
Empowering Female Hunters
Trends in Used-Gun Sales
How to Access Magazine Archives Back to December 2007
Once you have launched the digital version of a recent issue, you can access the past 14 years of Shooting Industry back issues by using the ARCHIVE Button. First click on the MENU icon (three horizontal lines). Then click on the link for ARCHIVE. When you click on “Archive”, a list appears on the right. Scroll down to select any issue from July 2021 back to December 2007. Note: The index is divided, so some of the more recent Shooting Illustrated issues are found at the BOTTOM of the Archive, while others are at the top, or the middle. Be patient and look for “SIxxxx”
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What is the most popular pistol chambering in the USA? It is the 9mm Luger (aka 9x19mm Parabellum). And nothing else is very close. Four out of every 10 pistols made from 2010-2020 were 9mms. And the percentage of 9mm is on the rise. In the year 2010, 27.9% of all handguns produced were 9mms. But in the year 2019, 9mm pistols represented 56.8% of all handguns made in the USA. For the entire decade, 9mm pistols made up 42.8% of all pistols produced domestically (15,111,566 of 35,315,097).
Based on data collected by the ATF, we can compare production numbers for the entire decade 2010 through 2020. During this 10-year span 15,111,566 9mm pistols were produced. That’s roughly twice as many as the next largest category, .40 up to .50 caliber, with 7,661,896 produced. Americans also liked their .22-caliber handguns, with 4,605,411 “up to .22″ handguns produced.
According to Shooting Industry Magazine: “9mm pistols were the most prolifically produced caliber in the 2010s. Thanks to the ATF’s Annual Firearms Manufacturing & Export Report (AFMER) … we’re able to able to quantify the scope of [the 9mm caliber’s] dominance.”
Smith & Wesson is Now America’s Top 9mm Pistol Manufacturer
Among 9mm pistol producers, Smith & Wesson (S&W) tops the field, with the M&P line leading the way. In second place is SIG Sauer, followed by Ruger (3rd), and Glock (4th). Notably, Glock seems to have lost market share over the past decade. S&W produced nearly four times as many 9mm pistols as Glock.
This YouTube Video Compares the SIG P365 and the S&W Shield
SIG Sauer made a big jump in the last decade: “The second-largest 9mm producer, SIG Sauer grew at an impressive rate during the 2010s — no doubt led by its P320 Modular Handgun Series and high-capacity, micro-compact P365.” (Shooting Industry.) Notably, SIG Sauer also secured the U.S. Military contract for the M17/M18 9mm pistol.
If you want to stay current with trends in the firearms industry, and see important new product releases before they hit dealers’ shelves, you should check out Shooting Industry magazine. While tailored for firearms/outdoor gear retailers and industry professionals, this monthly journal also provides valuable information for all gun owners. We read Shooting Industry to learn about sales trends, new products, and current gun laws issues.
READ for FREE — Shooting Industry is now available in a digital format for FREE. There are free archives going back 14 years to December 2007.
Get FREE Digital Shooting Industry Magazines for the Past 13 Years
You can access, for free, 14 years of Shooting Industry back issues, plus all the recent 2021 issues. CLICK HERE for the current issue along with all issues for the previous three years: 2018, 2019, 2020. IMPORTANT — To access older issues, you much first launch a recent digital edition. That will give you access to the full 14-year archive, as explained below.
Here are links for the most recent three issues — July 2021, June 2021, and May 2021. Simply click each cover to read full issue for FREE:
July 2021
Top Stories:
Trends Of First-Time Buyers
COVID-19’s Effect On Hunting
June 2021
Top Stories:
Where’s All the Ammo?
Industry’s Public Companies
May 2021
Top Stories:
The Art of Instruction
New Gun Owners in America
How to Access Magazine Archives Back to December 2007
Once you have launched the digital version of a recent issue, you can access the past 14 years of Shooting Industry back issues by using the ARCHIVE Button. First click on the MENU icon (three horizontal lines). Then click on the link for ARCHIVE. When you click on “Archive”, a list appears on the right. Scroll down to select any issue from July 2021 back to December 2007. Note: The index is divided, so some of the more recent Shooting Illustrated issues are found at the BOTTOM of the Archive, while others are at the top, or the middle. Be patient and look for “SIxxxx”
BONUS! FREE Back Issues of GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner
In the Shooting Industry Archives, you will also find free digital editions of GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner. These will be found in the archive tables on the right. Just look for GUNSxxxx in the list entry for GUNS Magazine back issues, or AHxxxx for American Handgunner back issues.
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There will be no SHOT Show this year. So, to learn about new gun industry products, we must rely on the print media, internet, and a few gun-centric cable TV shows (such as Shooting USA). Thankfully, Shooting Industry magazine remains alive and well. And SI just released its first of three new-for-2021 product features. Part One of the three-part 2021 New Product Showcase is found in Shooting Industry’s just-released December issue. This features new-for-2021 products from 50+ companies. CLICK HERE to see all new featured products.
Here are six standout products from the 2021 New Product Showcase:
Springfield Armory Waypoint Rifles
Springfield’s new Waypoint rifles feature steel or carbon-wrapped barrels, TriggerTech triggers, and carbon-fiber, hand-painted camo stocks with five QD mounts for versatile carry plus M-Lok slots. The actions are impressive too — with precision machining, enlarged ejection port, and integral recoil lug. These Waypoint rifles rival full-custom hunting rigs, yet are reasonably affordable. Starting price is $1699.00 with stainless barrel, while the deluxe model with carbon-wrapped barrel and adjustable cheekpiece is still under $2,400.00. All Model 2020 Waypoint rifles feature strong, light-weight, carbon-fiber-reinforced stocks with hand-painted camouflage finishes. You could easily pay $700-$800 just for an equivalent camo-painted stock from McMillan or Manners Composite Stocks.
New Lapua Brass: .284 Win, 6.5 PRC, .300 PRC, and .300 WinMag
Lapua will offer four new types of ultra-premium cartridge brass in 2021. The four new Lapua cases are: 6.5 PRC, .284 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .300 PRC. The .284 Win cartridge still dominates the F-Open game, so this is good news for F-Class shooters. Lapua is excited about the PRC offerings: “The new Lapua 6.5 and .300 PRC cartridge cases provide competitive shooters, hunters, and accuracy enthusiasts a premium selection for precision hand loads, an option that’s been missing from the market since the PRC’s inception.” The venerable .300 Winchester Magnum remains a top choice for hunting.
Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro Chassis Rifle
PRS/NRL shooters should check out the new DELTA 5 PRO from Daniel Defense. This features a stainless action with 3-lug bolt and hammer-forged barrels. The aluminum chassis stock is fully adjustable and features a thumbrest that works for both left- and right-hand shooters. This Delta 5 Pro comes standard with an Area 419 HELLFIRE muzzlebrake. The rifle is available in .308 (20″ Heavy Palma barrel), 6.5 Creedmoor (24″ Heavy Palma barrel or 26″ varmint barrel) and 6mm Creedmoor (26″ varmint barrel).
J.P. Sauer & Sohn — UltraLight Synchro XTC Hunting Rifle
For 2021, J.P. Sauer enhances the S404 series with the Synchro XTC, a carbon fiber, bolt-action rifle in camouflage green. Weighing 6.1 pounds, this lightweight S404-series rifle features a hand-laid, carbon-fiber, thumbhole stock with adjustable comb. The hammer-forged barrel is fluted for balance and weight reduction. The adjustable trigger offers four pull weights from 1.2 to 2.7 pounds. Adjusting the pull weight is easy using settings marked above the trigger. Like all J.P. Sauer S404-series rifles, the new Synchro XTC allows easy changing of bolt heads and barrels for quick caliber conversions. If you want something even lighter, the S101 Highland XTC carbon-fiber rifle weighs just 5.5 pounds for short action version. This features a hand-laid, carbon-fiber stock with fluted barrel. The manufacturer guarantees sub-MOA accuracy at 100 yards.
Lee Precision Primer Pocket Swager (Large and Small)
Lee’s new Ram Swage primer pocket swager will remove primer pocket crimps on both large- and small-primer brass. This new tool features spring-assisted case extraction. The all-steel case guide ensures cases will be positively centered on the push rod. The Lee Swager works on all single-stage presses with 7/8″-14 threads in the press frame that can accept universal shell holders. The unique design, which does not use a conventional shellholder, allows users to swage any small or large primer pocket without swapping to a different size shellholder.
Rite in the Rain All-Weather MRAD Target
Not that winter is here, there will be some cold, wet days at the range. No worries with Rite in the Rain Target Products with rain-proof cardstock. New for 2021 is an All-Weather 100M Sniper Target. Perfect for PRS shooters with Mil-Rad scopes, this target boasts a 1 cm grid with each box representing 1/10 milliradian at 100 meters. The bullseye and scoring rings represent an MR-1 target presented at 500 meters. Below the target grid are fields for recording load information and Range conditions. The target also has 1, 2, and 3 MOA rings so you quickly judge accuracy at long range.
More Women Become Gun Owners — Important Trend
More women than ever are becoming gun-owners. So far in 2020, women represented over 40% of first-time gun buyers, a notable statistic. To analyze this trends, leaders from The Well Armed Woman, A Girl & A Gun, and Shoot Like A Girl sat down with Shooting Industry Magazine to share their insights. They discussed how 2020’s events compelled new groups of women to not only purchase their first firearm, but to join the broader firearms community. READ Story HERE
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If you want to stay current with trends in the firearms industry, and see important new product releases before they hit dealers’ shelves, you should check out Shooting Industry magazine. While tailored for firearms/outdoor gear retailers and industry professionals, this monthly journal also provides valuable information for all gun owners. We read Shooting Industry to learn about sales trends, new products, and current gun laws issues.
READ for FREE — Shooting Industry is now available in a digital format for FREE. There are free archives going back 13 years to December 2007.
Get FREE Digital Shooting Industry Magazines for the Past 13 Years
You can access, for free, nearly 13 years of Shooting Industry back issues, plus all the recent 2020 issues. CLICK HERE for the current issue along with all issues for the last three years: 2018, 2019, 2020. IMPORTANT — To access older issues, you much first launch a recent digital edition. That will give you access to the full 13-year archive, as explained below.
Here are links for the last three issues — July, August, and September 2020. Simply click each cover to read full issue for FREE:
SEPTEMBER 2020
Top Stories:
Gun Storage in Pandemic
Tracking Big-Game Hunters
AUGUST 2020
Top Stories:
Self-Defense Long Guns
Pandemic Spurs Hunting
JULY 2020
Top Stories:
First-Time Gun Buyers
U.S. Firearms Industry Today
How to Access Magazine Archives Back to December 2007
Once you have launched the digital version of a recent issue, you can access the past 13 years of Shooting Industry back issues by using the ARCHIVE Button. First click on the MENU icon (three horizontal lines). Then click on the link for ARCHIVE. When you click on “Archive”, a list appears on the right. Scroll down to select any issue from September 2020 back to December 2007.
BONUS! FREE Back Issues of GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner
In the Shooting Industry Archives, you will also find free digital editions of GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner. These will be found in the archive tables on the right. Just look for GUNSxxxx in the list entry for GUNS Magazine back issues, or AHxxxx for American Handgunner back issues.
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Above and below — the world’s best female Action Pistol shooter, Jessie Harrison.
The shooting sports are not a “man’s game” these days. Far from it. More and more women have taken up target shooting. A recent survey showed an 80% increase in the number of women target shooters from 2001 to 2016. In total, six million American ladies participated in target shooting in 2016. Likewise hunting has become more popular with American women. Female hunters in the USA numbered 1.1 million in 2016. That represents a 104% increase from 2001.
Recognizing that ladies are an ever-increasing part of the shooting sports, Shooting Industry Magazine published its first-ever Woman’s Issue dedicated to female shooters and huntresses. This 2019 special issue can be accessed for FREE online. CLICK HERE to READ.
While the issue is focused primarily on SELLING products to women, there is some very useful information that can help match directors and club officials. The magazine interviews many business owners and range directors who have developed female-focused shooting and training programs.
Female Participation in Shooting Sports and Hunting
The Shooting Industry Woman’s Issue spotlights female participation in target shooting and hunting. One key article summarizes a nationwide survey conducted by Southwick Associates. One interesting finding was that much of the increase in female participation can be tracked to younger ladies: “Female participation in both hunting and shooting may be highest among younger women[.]” Notably, 16% of respondents among target shooters in the 16-24 age category were female. Southwick concludes: “Future generations of hunters and shooters will contain more women than ever before”.
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– The “SHOT” in SHOT® Show stands for Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade.
Based on data collected by the ATF, we can compare production numbers for the entire decade 2010 through 2020. During this 10-year span 15,111,566 9mm pistols were produced. That’s roughly twice as many as the next largest category, .40 up to .50 caliber, with 7,661,896 produced. Americans also liked their .22-caliber handguns, with 4,605,411 “up to .22″ handguns produced. 
