The prices of sporting guns have risen sharply over the past few years, most recently driven by a mix of higher manufacturing costs, supply chain disruptions and a wave of tariffs.
For wing and clays shooters, the impact is already impossible to ignore. What were once relatively accessible sports are now under financial pressure for both newcomers and longtime participants – even putting some of our cherished American traditions at risk for future generations.
For 2026 in particular, the whiplash originates from tariffs on raw materials used to manufacture sporting guns, components and ammunition; increased oil prices that impact manufacturing and transportation; and inventories being prioritized for conflicts worldwide. For the weekend clay shooter or upland hunter these market dynamics translate into a direct hit on our wallet. And at the bottom of the food chain (the cash register of your local firearms dealer), tariffs alone on the finished product can add anywhere from 10 to 30 percent on the retail price of an over/under, side by side, pump or semi-auto made in Italy, Germany, the UK, Turkey or Japan.
