Reddit prohibiting gun parts starting October 9

Reddit is prohibiting user-to-user transactions for gun parts and accessories as of October 9, and banning some popular subreddits including r/GunAccessoriesForSale.

What is changing on Reddit?

On October 7, 2025, Reddit informed the moderators of multiple gun-parts subreddits that it will be prohibiting content related to buying or selling "firearm parts and enhancements", and therefore will be banning their subreddits permanently.

On October 9, Reddit will officially announce this policy change and restrict the affected subreddits so no new content can be posted. This means Reddit is effectively giving these communities only 2 days to coordinate their migrations to other platforms. (Read more about alternative platforms below.)

On October 16 the affected subreddits will be banned and taken offline permanently. Past content will no longer be visible.

For clarity, Reddit already prohibited transactions for firearms, ammunition, and "legally controlled" firearm parts/accessories. Now they are prohibiting all firearm parts and accessories, whether they are regulated or not, including:

• Barrels
• Bolts
• Magazines
• Optics/scopes
• Rails
• Slings
• Triggers
• Uppers
• etc.

While subreddits dedicated to gun parts and accessories will be most heavily affected, it seems likely these changes will also impact subreddits for airsoft, hunting, gunsmithing, optics, etc.

What exactly did Reddit say?

Specifically, Reddit writes:

Rule 7 prohibits content if it uses Reddit to solicit or facilitate user-to-user transactions or gifts involving certain goods and services. ... Reddit is updating this rule to include: ... firearm parts and enhancements (e.g., bolt, clips, trigger, scope... Unfortunately, because this subreddit largely contains content that this policy update will prohibit, we have had to make the difficult decision to ban [your subreddit].

Why such short notice?

It is strange that Reddit chose a Tuesday to inform moderators of major restrictions being imposed only 2 days later. Reddit is known to take positions opposing private firearm ownership, so this timeline seems intentionally short to cause deliberate disruption to the affected subreddits. Reddit easily could have allowed 2 months of migration time instead of 2 days.

How are affected Reddit users reacting?

In the face of losing some of their favorite subreddits, most commenters are dismayed. Many are noting this was predictable, given Reddit's anti-gun history.

"Anyone who didn't know this was always coming is silly."
- TheR4alVendetta

Other commenters are discussing how to adapt, suggesting moving transactions to other venues that support easy communication between users. The most frequently-mentioned alternatives include:

• Communication-focused marketplaces
  • Infinite Armory
  • Tacswap
• Forums with large buy/sell/trade sections
  • AR15.com
  • Sniper's Hide

Others have suggested Discord, however that platform prohibits "the selling or facilitation of sales of regulated or potentially dangerous goods." Many are concerned that policy could easily be expanded encompass parts and accessories the same way it did on Reddit.

Where to find the latest information?

Each sub should have its own post with details, but we've compiled some relevant examples:

• r/Firearms: Reddit has banned user sales of all firearm parts and “enhancements”
• r/GunAccessoriesForSale (GAFS): The Future of GAFS, Addressing the Elephant, [Removed by moderator]
• r/gundeals: No, we did not get the shutdown notification
• r/PrsAccessories: Due to an impending change in Reddit rules, this sub is shutting down
• r/RetroAR: You do not hate Reddit and other woke social media companies enough
• r/RetroARMarket: I want to thank you all for being so awesome

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