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Surprising Suppressor Statistics: Breaking Records in 2026

Surprising Suppressor Statistics: Breaking Records in 2026

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 January 2026 changed everything for the NFA landscape. With the federal tax stamp dropping to zero dollars, suppressors and other NFA items moved from niche curiosity to mainstream reality almost overnight. In this episode, Logan Metesh of High Caliber History and Allen Forkner of GunBroker.com break down the staggering numbers released by the ATF, explore what “common use” really looks like in practice, and put modern NFA growth into perspective with some eye-opening comparisons. This is a data-driven episode that proves statistics do not have to be boring when they rewrite decades of firearms history. Episode Highlights • ATF processed more than 240,000 suppressor forms in January alone • Total January approvals reached nearly 385,000 NFA items when including SBRs and SBSs • The suppressor registry now sits at approximately 5.7 million units, with nearly 900,000 added in just the last 18 months • January alone may represent nearly 5 percent of all NFA items registered since 1934 • Suppressor ownership is rapidly reinforcing the legal concept of “common use” following Heller, McDonald and Bruen • Price compression is accelerating adoption, with quality rimfire suppressors now available below the former tax stamp cost • Modern approval rates briefly hit one approved form every 11 seconds, 24 hours a day • The ATF backlog still grew despite record approvals, highlighting sustained demand • Comparisons put NFA growth into perspective against: o City populations o Iconic firearms production runs o Military force sizes o Automotive, aviation and consumer-goods manufacturing • Transferable machine guns remain capped at approximately 234,000 units, a number that can only decline under current law • Discussion of Form 1 suppressors, home manufacturing and the possibility of “disposable” suppressor concepts • How suppressors are becoming normalized for hunting, sport shooting and everyday firearms ownership Key Takeaway The modern NFA market no longer resembles its past. January 2026 marked a fundamental shift, not just in volume but in perception. Suppressors are no longer fringe accessories. By every measurable standard, they are firmly entering common use. If someone sent you this episode, they probably want you to buy a suppressor. Or at least buy one for yourself. Listen, Watch and Subscribe If you appreciate thoughtful conversations about firearms history, hunting culture and the stories behind iconic guns, be sure to subscribe to the No Lowballers Podcast. New episodes feature collectors, historians, writers and industry insiders who care about more than just specs and trends. And as always: 👍 Like the episode 💬 Leave a comment 🔁 Share it with a fellow firearms enthusiast 📲 Subscribe and follow ⭐ Leave a review wherever you listen Every rating, review, and share helps us bring more firearms history and industry insight each week. Follow No Lowballers on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ for behind-the-scenes content, historical deep dives and weekly drops every Thursday. Find Logan at ⁠⁠High Caliber History⁠⁠ and Allen at ⁠⁠GunBroker⁠⁠.
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