The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reported that the September 2025 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure increased by 2.0 percent, marking a return to positive growth after seven consecutive months of decline.
NSSF-adjusted NICS were 1,179,424, compared to the September 2024 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,156,223.
The adjusted NICS data subtracts out NICS purpose code permit checks and permit rechecks, which are used by states for CCW permit applications and ongoing checks of active CCW permit databases. NSSF began subtracting permit rechecks in February 2016.
For comparison, the unadjusted September 2025 FBI NICS figure of 1,858,763 reflects a 10.3% percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,072,550 in September 2024.
The third-quarter 2025 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 3,249,497 reflects a 5.7 percent decrease compared to the third-quarter 2024 figure of 3,432,008.
Additional insights on the month-over-month NICS data from GunBroker, NICS Reporting & Analysis (August 2025 data), available in the member portal under Industry Research.
- Top 5 States for Adjusted NICS Checks: TX, FL, CA, PA, CO
- Top 5 States for FBI NICS Handgun Checks: TX, FL, CA, PA, TN
- Top 5 States for FBI NICS Long Gun Checks: TX, CA, PA, FL, TN
Chart courtesy NSSF
