The Shooting Wire

Friday, May 1, 2026  ■  Industry Update

RetailBI Reports Q1 2026 Shooting Sports Retail Trends

RetailBI has released its Q1 2026 Shooting Sports Report, offering a data-driven look at retail sales, inventory, and pricing trends across the shooting sports industry. Based on a same-store sample of 654 dealers that have consistently shared data since 2020 (a subset of the broader 2,000 dealer network), the report shows new firearm unit sales declined 7.6% year over year in Q1 2026, while revenue declined 2.6% and average selling price increased 5.4%.

Category performance was mixed. Rifles were the most resilient among the major firearm categories, shotguns remained the weakest, and suppressors continued to stand out with 53.1% same-store unit growth year over year. The report also highlights trends in ammunition, optics, pricing, and retailer inventory levels.

The full Q1 2026 Shooting Sports Report is available now.

Download the full Q1 2026 Shooting Sports Report to access in-depth, category-level analysis across handguns, rifles, shotguns, ammunition, optics, and suppressors.

Sign up at the RetailBi website to get your copy and automatically receive future reports as they're released.

For manufacturers and distributors looking to stay ahead of the curve, RetailBI is a must-have strategic tool to validate forecasting and align benchmarks. Whether managing inventory, analyzing product life cycles, or adjusting go-to-market strategies, the actionable insights provided by RetailBI's real-world data and powerful analytics help decision-makers quickly adapt to changing market dynamics with confidence and precision. Businesses ready to move beyond assumptions and guesswork are encouraged to download the complimentary RetailBI Q1 2026 Shooting Sports Retail Report as an example of the clarity RetailBI can provide or schedule a demonstration with Gearfire CSO, Kaleb Seymour, for a deeper dive.

About RetailBI: RetailBI is the shooting sports industry's most comprehensive business intelligence platform, offering data and insights to help manufacturers, distributors, and retailers make informed business decisions. Powered by transaction data from over 2,000 U.S. firearms retailers, RetailBI delivers unmatched visibility into market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive performance. For more information, visit gogearfire.com/solutions/retailbi/