Did you know the FBI has logged more than 516 million NICS background checks since 1998? We dug through every single one to see when Americans buy the most guns—and the results might surprise you. From Black Friday doorbusters to nationwide uncertainty, these surges show just how connected firearm sales are to the times we live in.
The Biggest Day in Gun Sales History
The single busiest day ever recorded was March 17, 2021, with 236,295 background checks in just 24 hours. What drove it? A perfect storm of post-election uncertainty, pandemic fears, and talk of new gun control measures. It was proof that when people feel uncertain, many turn to firearms for security and peace of mind.
Black Friday: America’s Gun Holiday
If there’s one shopping tradition that gun buyers never miss, it’s Black Friday. Time and again, the day after Thanksgiving has set records.
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214,913 checks on November 24, 2017
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203,086 checks on November 29, 2019
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202,465 checks on November 24, 2023
It’s not just TVs and game consoles flying off shelves—firearms are a major part of America’s holiday shopping.
Panic Buying During the Pandemic
When COVID-19 lockdowns hit, Americans flooded gun counters. On March 20, 2020, more than 210,000 background checks were run in a single day, and that same week, over 1.19 million checks were filed. Many of those buyers were first-timers, looking for protection in a time of fear and uncertainty.
The Political Effect of Tragedy
Sadly, national tragedies also push gun sales upward. After the Sandy Hook shooting in December 2012, background checks spiked to nearly 954,000 in one week, as fears of stricter gun control led to record purchases. It’s a reminder that politics and firearms are tightly linked in the U.S.
What We Learned
Looking at the Top 5 Highest Weeks of NICS checks, one thing is clear:
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Sales surge during uncertainty—whether it’s elections, pandemics, or unrest.
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Black Friday consistently delivers record numbers.
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First-time buyers make up a big share of these spikes.
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Gun control talk often fuels preemptive buying.
What’s Next?
Firearm sales will continue to ebb and flow with the economy, elections, and world events. But whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned collector, one thing’s for sure: having access to the right gun at the right price matters.
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