RetailBI’s newly released Q3 2025 Shooting Sports Retail Report confirms what the industry has felt all summer — the “Trump Slump” is no longer speculation. Retail-level data shows widespread softness across nearly every major category, with sales declining and inventory trends starting to diverge.

Sentiment of Firearm Market Slowing Meets Data Reality

Drawing exclusively from same-store sales data reported directly through select point-of-sale and eCommerce systems within RetailBI’s network of retailers, the Q3 report offers a clear, unbiased look at what’s actually happening at the counter.

Key trends highlighted in the report include:

• Firearms: The steepest quarterly sales drop in over a year, with rifle inventory not yet matching demand.
• Ammunition: Double-digit declines nearly across the board, but prices are holding firmer than expected.
• Optics: Down less than firearms, reflecting stable retail discipline.
• Suppressors: Pullback continues as buyers wait for 2026’s expected tax-stamp repeal.

Actionable Data-Driven Insights for Shooting Sports Supply-Chain Management

While talk of an accelerated firearm industry slowdown has been building for several quarters, the Q3 2025 Shooting Sports Retail Report confirms a deepening imbalance between sales velocity and stock levels that could shape Q4 strategies.

“Slow demand was expected, but slow reaction is not,” said Kaleb Seymour, VP of Data & Analytics at Gearfire. “The third quarter was a wake-up call. The question now is who will adjust before year-end and who will get caught waiting.”

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 Q3 2025 Shooting Sports Retail Report as an example of the clarity RetailBI can provide or schedule a demonstration at calendly.com/kalebs 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/