September estimated gun sales down, a little

By Christen Smith

In this file photo, Randy Crocker , left, with USA Pawn, shows Hal Finch of Madison a pistol in the store on I-55 at McDowell Road in Jackson, Mississippi. Gun sales fell marginally in September — the same month Mississippi hosts a reduced sales tax holiday on guns and ammo.  (Photo: The Clarion-Ledger)
Estimated gun sales dipped marginally in September, according to federal data.
Dealers processed more than 1.8 million applications through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System last month. NICS checks serve as an industry proxy for firearm sales. Guns.com removes permit applications and rechecks from the monthly total to more accurately pinpoint sales, though the measurement isn’t exact.
Estimated sales fell just short of 940,000 last month — a 13 percent decrease over 2016, the biggest on record for gun sales. Month over month, however, sales appear relatively flat, with September trailing August by just over 10,000 transfers.
Dealers processed checks for more 478,000 handguns and 417,000 long guns, according to federal data.
Its been a “difficult” summer for gun makers and retailers still standing in the shadow of 2016. Since the November election, stocks for Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger and Co. fell 50 percent and 26 percent, respectively. Both companies

Source: Guns.com