January 11, 2026
"2026 could be the year of suppressors."
Photo: Overall, 2025 saw about 14.6 million sales-related NICS checks. That’s down 4.1 percent from 2024 and the slowest year since 2019–even dropping below 2016’s numbers.
That is the prediction coming from inside the firearms industry after a dramatic spike in suppressor sales followed the long-awaited change to the National Firearms Act tax.
On January 1, 2026, the $200 federal tax stamp for suppressors officially dropped to zero. The result was immediate, and historic.
A Record-Breaking Start to the Year
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported an unprecedented surge in NFA e-Forms submissions on New Year’s Day alone.
Roughly 150,000 submissions were processed in a single day.
To put that into perspective, typical daily submissions before the tax change averaged closer to 2,500. That means demand jumped by a factor of 60 almost overnight.
Why the Tax Change Matters
For decades, the $200 tax stamp acted as both a financial and psychological barrier for many buyers. While suppressors were always legal at the federal level, the added cost, paperwork, and wait time kept ownership limited.
Removing the tax did not eliminate the process, but it removed one of the biggest deterrents.
For many gun owners, that was enough to finally move forward.
What Suppressors Really Do
Despite the name, suppressors do not make firearms silent. They reduce noise, recoil, and muzzle blast, making shooting safer for hearing and more comfortable overall.
In many parts of the world, suppressors are viewed as standard safety equipment. In the U.S., they have long been misunderstood, despite their practical benefits.
What Comes Next
The ATF continues to process applications through the existing NFA system, and wait times remain a factor. Still, industry analysts expect suppressor ownership to expand significantly throughout 2026 as more buyers take advantage of the tax change.
Whether this moment marks a permanent shift or a short-term surge remains to be seen.
Fun Fact: Suppressors have been regulated under the National Firearms Act since 1934, placing them in the same legal category as machine guns for nearly a century.
Why This Matters
Changes in law can reshape behavior overnight. The sudden surge in suppressor demand shows just how much impact a single line in the tax code can have.
For gun owners, 2026 may be remembered as the year suppressors finally went mainstream.
Until next time, stay locked and loaded.
- Randy, Locked N Loaded
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