Industry Sales Up 5% In Second Quarter

Sales by gun and ammunition manufacturers grew by 5 percent in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2005, according to the firearm industry’s best economic indicator. The increase was driven by strong ammo sales, up 32.7 percent, and handgun sales, up 12.3 percent. The statistics are taken from the latest Pittman-Robertson federal excise tax collection report. Excise taxes are calculated as a percentage of wholesale receipts, paid quarterly by firearm and ammunition manufacturers, and earmarked for state wildlife conservation and habitat restoration programs. During the quarter, $56.2 million was generated for conservation, compared to $53.5 million in 2005. The latest tax collections suggest overall sales of $524.7 million from April through June 2006, not including retail markup or final retail sales.