S&W Buys Savage: A Growth Playbook for Independent FFLs

Smith & Wesson's $160 million purchase of Savage Arms puts two major long-gun lines under one roof. A practical growth playbook for independent FFL dealers: audit your supplier concentration, lock terms while two reps still compete, and make sure local buyers can actually find you.

By Gary Stone •

Appointment-Only FFLs: What Customers Need to Find You

A new Illinois ordinance lets up to five home-based, appointment-only gunsmithing and transfer operations open their doors. For FFLs with no storefront, the entire business is being findable — here is the growth playbook.

By Gary Stone •

Q4 2026 FFL Market Forecast: What the Data Says Now

August splits the market in two: adjusted firearms checks up 2.2 percent, NFA checks up 201.6 percent. Here is what the data says about FFL inventory, transfer revenue and the next 90 days.

By Mark Edwards •

Fifth Circuit Handgun Ruling: What FFL Dealers Do Now

A divided Fifth Circuit panel held that the federal ban on direct interstate handgun sales violates the Second Amendment. For dealers, the effect is on the calendar, not the counter yet.

By Claire Eason •

Two Federal Moves Just Widened the Handgun Market

In four days, DOJ stopped enforcing the under-21 handgun sales ban and the Fifth Circuit struck the interstate handgun purchase ban. Here is what the wider buyer pool does to FFL revenue and how to model it for Q4.

By Mark Edwards •

FFL Transfers: Turning a Fee Into a Customer Pipeline

Transfers look like a $25-$50 paperwork fee. They are the highest-intent buyer your shop sees all week - and the cheapest customer-acquisition channel you own, if the four touchpoints between arrival and pickup are handled right.

By Gary Stone •

Gun Sales Up Six Straight Months: What FFL Dealers Do Now

August 2026 adjusted NICS checks rose 2.2% to 1,115,410 - the sixth straight month of growth - while NFA checks tripled after a court deregulated suppressors. Here is what the data means for FFL dealers heading into Q4.

By Mark Edwards •

What the 2026 ATF Deregulation Means for FFL Dealers

The DOJ let silencer, shotgun and rifle deregulation stand, and a direct-to-home shipping rule is on the table. Here's what that means for FFL economics — and how dealers should position for the next 12 months.

By Mark Edwards •
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