New Gun Sales Record Set

by
posted on December 1, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gsagi2015_fs.jpg
Black Friday now holds the record for the highest volume of inquires processed in a single day by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and continues the phenomenal gun-sales pace of 2015.

Each check doesn’t represent a gun purchase, but it is the best barometer available. The previous record was set on Dec. 21, 2012, with 177,170 NICS checks. On Nov. 27, 2015, that high-water mark was shattered when 185,345 requests were made of the system.

For the four-day, traditional opening of the holiday shopping season, NICS checks were up 9.9 percent when compared to the same period last year. Total figures for November haven’t been posted on the FBI website yet, but strong sales into October, coupled with last Friday’s performance, indicate this year is poised to eclipse 2013’s record-setting total of 21,093,273.

Not all Americans are contacted for their opinion on the Second Amendment, but they’re certainly voicing their opinions with their pocketbooks.

Latest

Armed Citizen Podcast John Lott 1
Armed Citizen Podcast John Lott 1

Why the Murder Rate Quickly Fell to a Likely Historic Low

If the gun-control Left is to be believed, then the murder rate in the U.S. should be going up. After all, gun sales and ownership rates have been rising for the last few decades and anti-gun groups claim that gun ownership is the cause of violent crime. This, of course, is nonsense.

16 New Bolt-Action Rifles for 2026

From cutting-edge precision rifles designed for competition or hunting to traditionally styled guns that emulate designs from yesteryear, 2026 saw the introduction of an incredible array of bolt-action rifles.

Review: Chiappa Rhino 60DS 10 mm Auto

The Italian-designed-and-manufactured Chiappa Rhino remains unique today as the only current revolver with the barrel mounted at the bottom of the frame, firing from the chamber at the 6-o’clock position.

5 New Large-Format Pistols for 2026

There's been a huge surge in the large-format pistol category, and 2026 continues to showcase new models answering the wants and needs of today's firearm owners.

Short & Powerful: The EOTech Vudu 4-12x36 mm Super Short Riflescope

EOTech's ultra-compact 3-9x32 mm Vudu was a popular addition to the company's variable-powered riflescope line, and the new 4-12x36 mm Vudu ups the ante with new features in a still-compact package.

The Armed Citizen® May 11, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.