Silencers & NFA Firearms FAQ

Silencers (also called suppressors or “cans”) are legal for individuals to possess and use for lawful purposes in 39 of the 50 states. In the U.S., the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE or ATF) regulates the manufacture and sale of suppressors under the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934.

 

REASONS TO OWN A SILENCER

  1. Reduced sound levels – better for your ears and those around you!
  2. Reduced recoil
  3. Virtually eliminates muzzle blast
  4. Makes faster follow-up shots possible
  5. Potential to increase accuracy
  6. Silencers make shooting safer and more enjoyable! 

Purchasing a Silencer Or Other NFA Items can appear daunting. Hopefully, we can help by addressing common questions and explaining the process. If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us so we can update our information.

Frequently Asked Questions

At this writing, Silencers are legal for ownership by private citizens in 39 states, and by licensed dealers and manufacturers in another four states:

Private Ownership Legal: AL, AK, AR, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.

If you are a RESIDENT of one of the states listed above you may purchase a silencer through a licensed dealer in your home state. If you OWN a second home in one of the states listed above, you may be considered a part-time resident of that state while residing in your second home and you may be able to purchase a silencer from a dealer in that state. Contact your local dealer for additional details. We can sell directly to you if you live in Indiana. We can still sell you a silencer if you live in another state, but the sale must go through your local dealer.

If you live in a state that is not listed above, there is no legal way for you to purchase a silencer at all. You can’t go to a legal state to make the purchase. You can’t have a friend, or family member in another state make the purchase for you. YOU must purchase the silencer from a dealer in your state of RESIDENCE.

Yes, if the state you are traveling through is a suppressor legal state. Other ATF regulations require a temporary permit for machine guns or short barrel rifles to travel across state lines. 

It varies based on ATF NFA branch workload, but it can take as long as 9-12 months.

There is a $200 Tax Stamp per silencer, it is a tax deductible one-time fee. This is the “Transfer Tax.” It is paid to the Federal Government no matter what silencer you buy or who you buy it from. However, pay it once, and you never have to pay it again. There are no continued or repeating costs.

ATF Tax Stamp Sample

No, it can all be done electronically and by US Mail. Please contact us for more information.

Yes. The approved application received from ATF serves as evidence of registration of the NFA firearm. This document must be made available upon request of any ATF officer. It is suggested that a photocopy of the approved application be carried by the possessor when the weapon is being transported.

The NFA Application Process

Application to Make & Register a Firearm

Application for Tax Paid Transfer & Registration of Firearm

Application for Tax Exempt Transfer & Registration of Firearm

Responsible Person Form
(Trusts & Legal Entities) 

Finger Print Card

Certificate of Compliance

Firearm Transaction

SAMPLE TAX STAMP