Other firearms and similar devices which operate by the — HTS 9303
Other firearms and similar devices which operate by the firing of an explosive charge (for example, sporting shot- guns and rifles, muzzle-loading firearms, Very pistols and other devices designed to project only signal flares, pistols and revolvers for firing blank ammunition, captive-bolt humane killers, line-throwing guns)
Chapter 93 › Heading 9303
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 9303 is a broad 4-digit product category for firearms and similar devices that operate by firing an explosive charge, but are not classified in the more specific firearm headings. It can include sporting shotguns and rifles, muzzle-loading firearms, Very pistols and other signal-flare devices, blank-firing pistols and revolvers, captive-bolt humane killers, and line-throwing guns.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, start with the product’s exact design and intended use, then follow the subheading structure under 9303. The narrower codes commonly distinguish the device’s type or function and may also consider construction or material, such as whether it is a particular kind of firearm or signal device. Do not choose a code based only on the product’s marketing name; review its operating mechanism, ammunition, barrel or bore characteristics, and principal use. Classification and any related import controls may require a customs broker or other qualified professional.
What to check
- Identify exactly how the device operates, including whether it fires a projectile, blank ammunition, a signal flare, or another charge.
- Determine the product’s primary design and intended use, such as sporting, signaling, humane dispatch, or line throwing.
- Read every subheading and legal note under heading 9303, and compare the product’s technical specifications with the wording of each candidate code.
- Check whether construction details, materials, bore or caliber information, or other listed characteristics affect the final 8-digit selection.
- Keep product drawings, manuals, photographs, and supplier specifications to support the classification, and ask a customs broker or seek a binding classification decision when the distinctions are unclear.
HTS heading 9303 summary
Other firearms and similar devices which operate by the is a 4-digit product category containing 2 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 9303.30 | Other sporting, hunting or target-shooting rifles |
| 9303.90 | Other |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9303.10.00.00 👉 | Muzzle-loading firearms | Free | — | Free |
| 9303.20.00 👉 | Other sporting, hunting or target-shooting shotguns, including combination shotgun-rifles | 2.6% | Free | 65% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 9303?
Other firearms and similar devices which operate by the firing of an explosive charge (for example, sporting shot- guns and rifles, muzzle-loading firearms, Very pistols and other devices designed to project only signal flares, pistols and revolvers for firing blank ammunition, captive-bolt humane killers, line-throwing guns). To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.