Welcome back to another episode of Gun Industry Insider, where we bring you the latest developments shaping the firearms industry. I’m your host, Ray Toofan, and today is May 13, 2025. In this episode, we’ll dive into the ongoing Vudoo Gun Works relocation saga and its impact on customers and dealers, the latest talk surrounding Taran Tactical’s innovative new carry gun, the anticipated release of Palmetto State Armory’s JAKL 9, and what the April 2025 NICS numbers reveal about the state of firearm sales. Let’s get into today’s episode.

This first topic is an update to the previous episode we did highlighting the rumors circulating Vudoo Gun Works. In case you didn’t listen to the last episode, Vudoo was purchased by a private equity firm in 2024 and as of a couple weeks ago, according to a former employee, they fired all their employees and closed their location in Utah. The rumor was that they were moving to Oklahoma, but the company went silent on social media and hasn’t been returning emails or answering the phone.

On Friday May 9, they put out a post on social media, likely due to the mounting pressure from vendors, customers, and dealers that are either owed money, or owed product. The post on Facebook states, “Vudoo Gun Works is relocating its operations to Oklahoma. During this transition, production will be temporarily paused. We will be resuming normal operations within six weeks. We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this time.” 

As mentioned in the previous episode, closing a location, moving to a new state, and to be back up and running within a few weeks seems to be extremely unlikely. In the last episode, it was rumored to be four weeks, but this new post says six weeks. So stated differently, they should be back up and running by June 20. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on Vudoo to see if they’re actually going to follow through with this post, or if it’s just to keep people at bay for a few more weeks while they try to figure out their next move. Let’s hope that this is true, even if it takes 2 or 3 months, because the alternative is bankruptcy and a lot of people will be taking a financial hit, but also, will hurt smaller companies in the industry that are trying to get off the ground, hoping that dealers, customers, and vendors will give them a chance to succeed.

Next up, discussion around Taran Tactical's recent announcement has been noticeable on social media lately. They shared a video on X showing off a new carry gun based off the Glock 43X, similar to their Combat Carry, but featuring a seamless compensator, and it’s stirring considerable interest. The firearm showcases a two-tone finish in Taran’s signature Coyote Bronze PVD, a Trijicon RMRcc red dot optic, and what Taran calls the Twin Jet Turbo comp crafted to handle recoil while maintaining concealability. Taran mentions in the video that this release is a miniaturized version of the firearm featured in the upcoming movie, Ballerina, plus it’s the first comp that’s built by Taran.

Taran has built a reputation for premium customizations and high-end double stack 1911s, often highlighted in competitive shooting events and in the John Wick series. This new carry gun seems to merge that detailed craftsmanship with the practical needs of concealed carry. The seamless compensator stands out, tackling a frequent issue in smaller firearms: managing recoil without adding size. The optics-ready slide, paired with a red dot, reflects the increasing demand for sighting beyond standard iron sights. On X, reactions vary from excitement to comments about the likely steep cost, aligning with Taran Tactical’s high-end market position.

Details such as the model name or release date remain unknown at this time, though anticipation continues to build. It’s likely that the release will coincide with the Ballerina movie, with pricing probably in the $3,000 range, based on Taran’s current offerings. This gun targets the dedicated enthusiasts and collectors as a luxury offering. 

If you’re a shop owner and not already a Taran Tactical dealer, you may benefit from contacting them to learn more about their dealer program. However, their dealer program does not offer the more generous margins that you’ll find with other high-end manufacturers such as Nighthawk Custom or Wilson Combat. Plus, if you’re a new dealer, getting any significant number of allocated firearms from Taran will be difficult.  We’ll keep an eye on Taran Tactical’s social media for further announcements on this new pistol.

Another new product release, this time from Palmetto State Armory, which announced the JAKL 9 on May 1, and it’s already stirring up interest among firearm enthusiasts. This 9mm pistol-caliber carbine expands their JAKL series, which stands out due to its long-stroke piston design. That’s a departure from the typical mil-spec AR platform, offering a different shooting experience. It comes with a 6.5-inch nitrided barrel threaded at 1/2x28, so attaching a suppressor is an option straight out of the box. The choice to use CZ Scorpion-style magazines makes sense—those are widely available and known for reliability. Add in a non-reciprocating ambidextrous charging handle and a last-round bolt hold open, and it’s clear this was built with practical use in mind.

The JAKL 9 features a monolithic upper receiver that pairs with AR-V lowers, keeping things familiar for anyone who’s worked with that setup before. It ships with a rear Picatinny rail, so you can attach a brace, or a stock if you want to go the SBR route. Adding a folding brace or stock will keep the gun compact for easy storage—perfect for tossing in a backpack or keeping in a vehicle. Being a PCC, it balances well between personal defense and just enjoying time at the range. The design leans toward versatility, and that’s likely why people are already talking about it.

Details are still thin since it’s not on Palmetto State Armory’s website yet, but the word is it might be released in June, so just a few weeks from now. Pricing is also unknown as of now, though some are guessing an MSRP around $1200. If that’s true, it’ll be a decent value for what’s included, especially from a company known for keeping costs reasonable. For shop owners that receive a lot of transfers from PSA may not be aware that they also offer a dealer program. Instead of having your customers transferring in PSA guns like this new JAKL-9, you could set up a dealer account and have them stocked on your shelves.

PSA is still demonstrating their ability to innovate in the PCC space. It’s a crowded market, but the JAKL 9’s mix of features could help it stand out. For anyone keeping an eye on new gear, this one’s worth watching as more info comes out.

Finally for our last topic, this past April, the National Shooting Sports Foundation reported an adjusted figure of 1,174,294 background checks processed through NICS, a decrease of 3.4% from the 1,216,116 recorded in April 2024. The unadjusted FBI NICS figure for the same month was 2,194,000, reflecting a 2.1% drop from the roughly 2,240,000 checks conducted the previous year. 

These numbers offer a window into firearm sales activity, though they don’t translate directly to units sold. A single background check can cover the purchase of multiple firearms, and some checks relate to permits or other purposes rather than sales. Still, the adjusted NICS figure serves as a dependable gauge, pointing to an estimated 1.2 million firearms sold this past April.

Looking back, this April stands out as the seventh-highest April on record for NICS checks since the system began over 25 years ago. That ranking underscores a notable level of activity, even with the slight decline from 2024. The data also marks the 70th straight month with adjusted checks exceeding 1 million, a streak that began well before 2020 and highlights a consistent demand for firearms. For broader context, the first four months of 2025 saw nearly 5.5 million guns sold, averaging 1.4 million per month. That’s a modest dip from the same period in 2024, yet it remains above the levels seen before the COVID surges of 2020 and 2021.

The health of the firearms industry looks solid despite these shifts. Sales have settled into a pattern that’s higher than pre-pandemic years, suggesting a larger and more committed customer base. Factors like the political climate after President Trump’s election may have eased concerns about new regulations, which historically spike sales, while economic pressures like inflation could also temper growth. 

Tariffs have also been mentioned as potentially tempering growth in the industry, however, the industry has a strong domestic manufacturing base, so the tariffs will mostly just have effects on some of the raw materials used to manufacture the firearms. Although there are quite a few firearms that are imported, the big manufacturers, such as Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Sig, and others, manufacture their firearms domestically.

Even so, the figures stay well above historical averages. States like Texas, Florida, and California led the way in adjusted checks, signaling where demand remains strongest. For those in the industry—shop owners, gunsmiths, or manufacturer reps—this points to a market that’s not booming like it did a few years back but is far from faltering, with opportunities still ripe in key regions and product lines.

Wrapping up today’s episode, we covered the Vudoo Gun Works relocation and its ripple effects, Taran Tactical’s innovative new carry gun, Palmetto State Armory’s JAKL 9 and its market potential, and what the April 2025 NICS numbers tell us about the state of firearm sales. These developments matter to shop owners, gunsmiths, and manufacturer reps, offering insights into industry trends and opportunities. Got thoughts or topics you’d like us to look into? Email us at insider@gunindustryinsider.com or reach out on X at @GunInsider. Stay tuned for the next episode—we’ll bring you more updates that matter to your shop or next sales call. Thanks for listening. Until next time!