The Nationwide Capturing Sports activities Basis (NSSF) has launched the revised Nationwide Immediate Felony Background Test System (NICS) figures for February 2026, offering perception into present developments within the firearms market. As you already know, I’ve been masking month-to-month NICS numbers for almost a 12 months. It is a helpful approach to assess the business’s well being and analyze developments, such because the rising recognition of NFA gadgets.
Reminders
As at all times, a NICS test solely confirms {that a} background test was finished — not what number of firearms have been listed on a 4473. There is no such thing as a direct hyperlink between checks and the variety of weapons offered. Non-public-party transfers, that are authorized in lots of states, are additionally not included. Moreover, 28 states now have at the least one certified different allow below the Brady Act, permitting allow holders to purchase firearms with out an additional NICS test. Ohio, for instance, accepts a sound CCW license as a substitute of a point-of-sale background test. The NSSF-adjusted numbers exclude non-firearm checks to offer a extra correct estimate.
The Numbers
The February 2026 NSSF-adjusted NICS determine got here in at 1,265,320, a 3.5% enhance from the February 2025 adjusted determine of 1,222,980.
For comparability, the unadjusted FBI NICS determine for February 2026 was 1,933,972, a 13.5% lower from 2,236,637 in February 2025. This highlights a distinction between firearm checks and allow checks and rechecks.
NFA Checks Proceed to Surge
Beginning in 2026, NSSF will start reporting month-to-month Nationwide Firearms Act (NFA) background checks for Type 1 and Type 4 gadgets, offering extra perception into suppressor and different NFA-regulated merchandise exercise.
The whole NFA checks for February 2026 reached 209,023, a 167% enhance from 78,295 in February 2025. Thanks, $0 switch charges! This pattern will proceed all through 2026.
High 5 States for NFA Checks (February 2026)
- Texas — 27,986
- Florida — 14,629
- Virginia — 14,230
- Georgia — 8,806
- North Carolina — 8,128
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The states with the very best variety of adjusted NICS checks in February have been:
- Texas
- Florida
- California
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
The identical 5 states additionally led the nation in FBI handgun checks, whereas the highest states for FBI lengthy gun checks have been Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, California, and Virginia.
Zooming Out
Total, February’s numbers present a modest rebound in background test exercise in comparison with the identical time final 12 months, even because the uncooked FBI totals declined. The three.5 p.c enhance in NSSF-adjusted checks signifies regular client demand because the market strikes via the early months of 2026. In the meantime, the dramatic surge in NFA checks highlights ongoing curiosity in suppressors and different regulated gadgets.
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