Gregory Kielma • March 29, 2026
2026 Firearm Prices Are Up 10–20%: Depending on Manufacture
2026 Firearm Prices Are Up 10–20% Depending On Manufacture
An Explanation from Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms
As someone who lives and breathes this industry every single day—both as an FFL and as a firearms instructor—I pay close attention to the trends that affect responsible gun owners. When prices jump 10–20% in a single year, people notice. Students ask me about it on the range, customers ask about it during transfers, and families ask about it when they’re trying to budget for their first defensive firearm.
Here’s the straight, practical breakdown of why firearm prices have climbed, and what it means for everyday gun owners.
1. Manufacturing Costs Are Up Across the Board
Firearms are machines built to extremely tight tolerances. When the cost of raw materials rises—steel, aluminum, polymers, machining components—manufacturers feel it immediately. Over the last year:
• Steel prices increased
• Precision machining costs rose
• Shipping and freight costs jumped
When the cost of building a firearm goes up, the final price inevitably follows.
2. Labor Shortages and Skilled Work Demand
Firearms manufacturing isn’t an entry level job. It requires skilled machinists, quality control techs, and experienced assembly workers. Many companies have had to raise wages to attract and retain talent. That cost gets baked into the final product.
3. Increased Demand from New Gun Owners
Every year, more Americans decide to take responsibility for their own safety. That’s a good thing. But higher demand—especially for handguns, AR platform rifles, and carry pistols—puts pressure on supply.
When demand outpaces production, prices rise.
4. Regulatory Pressure and Compliance Costs
Whether people agree with the politics or not, the reality is this:
Every new rule, form, compliance requirement, or manufacturing standard costs companies money.
From serialization requirements to shipping restrictions to background check system changes, manufacturers and distributors spend more time and money staying compliant. Those costs don’t disappear—they get passed on.
5. Supply Chain Disruptions Haven’t Fully Recovered
COVID-era disruptions never fully settled. Some specialty parts—springs, barrels, optics components—still face delays. When a single part is delayed, entire production lines slow down. Slower production means fewer guns on shelves, which means higher prices.
6. Brand Competition Has Shifted
Companies like SIG, Smith & Wesson, Glock, and Ruger have invested heavily in R&D. Optics-ready slides, modular frames, improved triggers, and better ergonomics all cost money to develop. The modern pistol is far more advanced than what we saw 10 years ago.
Innovation raises quality—but it also raises price.
7. Insurance, Liability, and Operational Costs
This is the part most people never see.
Manufacturers, distributors, and FFLs all face rising insurance premiums and operational costs. Liability coverage for anything firearm-related has skyrocketed. That cost trickles down through the entire supply chain.
What This Means for Responsible Gun Owners
Price increases aren’t a sign of the industry collapsing—they’re a sign of an industry adapting to economic pressure, regulatory changes, and increased demand.
For the everyday gun owner, it means:
• Budgeting a little more for quality
• Buying once, crying once
• Maintaining what you already own
• Training is becoming even more valuable than gear
A well-trained shooter with a reliable firearm is always more effective than someone chasing the newest model.
Kielma’s Parting Shot: My Advice as an Instructor and FFL
If you’re planning to buy:
• Buy sooner rather than later—prices rarely go backward
• Focus on proven platforms
• Invest in training before accessories
• Take care of the firearms you already own
And as always, stay informed, stay responsible, and stay prepared. That’s what separates a gun owner from a protector.
Gregg Kielma
About Edward Bailey: Why We Should Support Edward Bailey for Manatee County Commissioner, District 2
Why We Should Support Edward Bailey for Manatee County Commissioner, District 2
John Dunn: A Grassroots Candidate Enters the Manatee County Commission Race
DOJ Announces Rulemaking Package Aimed At Protecting Second Amendment Freedoms
Why Every Home Should Have a Firearm for Personal Protection
3d Printed Firearms What are They and Are they Legal? Let's take a look
Being Prepared for the 2026 Hurricane Season By Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training & Firearms The 2026 Hurricane Season is shaping up to be another year where preparation isn’t optional it’s essential. Florida has seen record heat, rising insurance pressures, rapid population growth, and increasingly unpredictable storm behavior. None of that is meant to create fear. It’s meant to reinforce a simple truth: preparedness gives you control, confidence, and options when the weather turns. Whether you’re protecting a home, a business, or a family, the goal is the same build layers of readiness before the first storm forms. Start With Awareness and a Plan Storms don’t give you time to “figure it out later.” Your plan should be written, practiced, and known by everyone in the household or workplace. Key elements of a solid plan: Where will you go if evacuation becomes necessary Multiple routes out of your area A communication plan if cell networks fail A designated out‑of‑state contact A plan for pets, elderly family members, and anyone with medical needs For businesses, include: Who secures the building Who handles digital backups Who communicates closures and reopening A plan removes panic. It replaces it with action. Strengthen Your Home or Business Before the First Storm Florida structures take a beating every year. Small improvements now prevent major losses later. Exterior protection: Inspect your roof for loose shingles or soft spots Clear gutters and drainage paths Trim trees and remove dead limbs Install or test shutters Reinforce garage doors—one of the most common failure points Interior protection: Surge protection for critical electronics Elevate valuables and important documents Know how to shut off water, power, and gas If you own a business, walk your property as if you were a storm: What can break? What can blow away? What can flood? Fix those points now. Build a Realistic, Usable Supply Kit For Your Home or Business A hurricane kit isn’t about stockpiling, it’s about independence. After a major storm, help may take hours or days to reach your area. For homes and families: Water: 1 gallon per person per day (minimum 3–7 days) Non‑perishable food Medications and medical supplies Flashlights, headlamps, and batteries Battery bank for phones First aid kit Copies of important documents Cash in small bills Tools, gloves, tarps, duct tape For businesses: Backup power for essential systems Printed employee contact lists Hard copies of insurance documents A plan for securing inventory and equipment Preparedness isn’t about fear it’s about not being dependent on luck. Protect Your Digital Life In 2026, digital readiness is just as important as physical readiness. Back up important files to the cloud and an external drive Photograph your home, business, and valuables for insurance Store digital copies of IDs, insurance policies, and receipts Keep chargers, power banks, and a small solar panel if possible When the power goes out, your digital preparation keeps you moving. Understand Post‑Storm Safety Most injuries happen after the storm, not during it. Be cautious with: Downed power lines Flooded roads Carbon monoxide from generators Unstable structures Contaminated water If you evacuated, don’t rush home. Wait for official clearance. Your safety comes first. Mindset: Prepared, Not Paranoid Preparedness is a discipline, not a reaction. It’s the same mindset we teach in every Tactical K class awareness, planning, and responsible action. A hurricane is a natural event. Your response is a choice. When you prepare early, you protect: Your family Your property Your business Your peace of mind And you set an example for your community. Kielma’s Parting Shot The 2026 Hurricane Season will bring challenges, just like every season. But Floridians are resilient, and preparation is part of our way of life. Start now. Strengthen your home, your business, and your plan. Build your layers of safety before the first storm forms. If you need help building a plan, creating a checklist, or preparing your family or business, Tactical K Training is here to support you with practical, real‑world guidance.
Why You Should Never Travel Through High Water
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking Nine Firearms, Including to Buyer Who Said He Was ‘At War’ Thursday, April 30, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia WASHINGTON - Brandon Smith, 34, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison for conspiring to traffic at least nine firearms to a prohibited buyer over the course of six months, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Brandon Smith was already on supervised probation for a violent felony when he chose to traffic firearms, and he continued even after being told the buyer intended to use them for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Over the course of six months, he arranged the sale of at least nine guns—including one with an obliterated serial number—to a prohibited individual. This was not a momentary lapse in judgment, but a sustained and deliberate effort to arm someone who could not legally possess firearms. My office remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal guns.” On Jan. 9, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty before Judge Howell to conspiracy to commit trafficking in firearms. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 108-month prison term. According to court papers, beginning in November 2023, ATF opened an investigation after a confidential source reported that Smith, then on supervised probation for a violent felony, was actively advertising firearms for sale by texting photographs of guns to prospective buyers, including individuals with prior felony convictions. During the next six months, Smith sold or arranged the sale of nine firearms to a buyer on six separate occasions. During the transactions, Smith sold his own personal carry firearm on multiple occasions when a supplier failed to deliver, then purchased a replacement for himself afterward. In early January 2024, as Smith and the buyer discussed an upcoming transaction, the buyer told Smith he needed the firearms because he was “at war” after his cousin had been killed. Smith proceeded with the sale. The buyer had also told Smith he was serving a criminal justice sentence at the time of the transactions. Smith acknowledged that he, too, was “on papers.” Smith arranged a total of six transactions from Nov. 30, 2023, through May 30, 2024, resulting in the sale of nine firearms. At least one of the firearms had its serial number obliterated. On Oct. 26, 2024, MPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the 1600 block of 16th Street SE and found Smith in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Officers observed open containers of alcohol and discovered a satchel at his feet. Inside the satchel, in plain view, was a loaded Glock Model 19X 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber and 16 additional rounds in the magazine. The bag also contained a bank card and government-issued identification in Smith’s name. Smith has prior convictions for Simple Assault (2011), Attempted Robbery (2013), and Robbery and Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence (2016), for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was serving a term of supervised probation from the 2016 conviction at the time of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan. Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking
