Sorry if this has already been asked, I couldn’t find it. Is there a list of step by step instructions on how to go about apply for then purchase suppressors?
I live in Texas.
Corey
- Do you know if you are going to purchase from a local dealer versus one of the big online companies that sell nationally?
The big online companies like silencer shop, Capital armory, Etc have pretty good explanations of the process on their website. If you’re going to buy locally from a local dealer, then best to either meet up with that dealer or give them a call and tell them this is your first purchase and let them walk you through how things work from their perspective. Every dealer can have some minor variations along the way that are good to know beforehand. If the dealer doesn’t want to spend any time answering your questions then that’s a company you don’t want to deal with at all and you need to go find a new one. I found local dealers to be absolutely nothing but very helpful with things like this.
- The next big thing you need to decide is are you going to use a trust or individual purchase? Both have their benefits and their drawbacks.
Individual purchase is a little easier, less hassle, paperwork. It used to be faster but nowadays even trust applications are coming back very quickly. The downside is is that if you purchase an individual then only you can have access to your suppressor. If you have wife, kids, Etc they cannot touch the thing unless you’re right there with them.
Trusts give you the benefit of allowing you to name more than one individual who can legally have possession of the suppressor such as family, etc. They also are beneficial because they have death benefits associated with them so that there’s a clear line of what happens to your suppressor after you die. The downside to a trust is it does take a little more time, effort. Every time you want to apply for a new suppressor you’re going to have to get everyone who’s on the trust to fill out the applications. You will either need to get someone locally to create the trust for you or again the large Online National companies actually will create a trust for you for a fee.
Thank you Carter
Anytime
At some point you’re going to need to get a passport style photo of yourself done. Nowadays that’s easily done on your cell phone with a selfie. You’re also going to need to be fingerprinted.
How that’s handled is a little different depending upon how you answered question number one above, who are you going to purchase from? For instance, for fingerprints if you use silencer shop they are going to refer you to one of their local dealers who have a kiosk which has the ability to take a digital fingerprint set for you. However, If instead you use Capital Armory, they will mail you an actual fingerprint card and some ink and you get to roll your own. Then snail mail it back to them. (BTW Capital Armory is in texas, they might be a good place for you to stop by depending upon where in Texas you are).
If you’re going to purchase just from a local dealer they probably got some people they can recommend to get the fingerprinting done. As it stands, both the local class 3 dealers around where I live decided to switch over to you silencer shop so even if I’m not purchasing from silencer shop I’ve got to use their copy of my prints, photo, documentation for submission
You also need to go to the ATF website, e-forms and create your own account with password and pin.
Then, you decide which suppressor you want to purchase. You will pay your dealer for that along with the $200 for the tax stamp. As above, get the dealer your passport photo and fingerprints in the matter they ask you to. You’ll need to answer some questions regarding not being a convicted felon, etc. If you’re using a trust then everyone on the trust will need to submit their photo, fingerprints, and answer the questions and sign the form themselves.
Your dealer will then create the application, ATF Form four to transfer the suppressor to your name or the trusts name. You will need to submit that to the ATF in some form of a joint session where your dealer is going to input some info, and you will input your username and pin. Then it is sit back and wait. Current wait times are the shortest I’ve ever seen in over 20 years of doing this. Hopefully that stays this way.
When the ATF approves your ATF Form 4, you’ll get an email. You can contact your dealer and arrange to pick up your suppressor. If you’re using one of the national companies that ships it directly to your house you’ll need to then go through a few extra Hoops to get that done. If you’re just going to go drive down to your dealer and pick it up you will fill out the typical form 4473, and then it’s yours!
If you have not purchased a NFA item in the past, my I suggest you set up a NFA trust. The trust will own all NFA items, and you can establish a beneficiary who will inherit the items on your death, otherwise basically they will have to be destroyed. You may also add people to the trust and they will not have to go through a background check.
I used James Willi at Willi Law Firm in Austin, TX. Texas Gun Trust Attorney. He does trusts all over the country not just Texas, It cost about $350.00
I purchased on silencer central. They sell a great 30 cal can that I use on all my hunting rifles from 223 to 300 win.
They help do all of the paper work and set up a trust for you. And when you are approved they ship your suppressor to your home.
I’ve used Silencer Shop and been really easy. They have a fingerprint kiosk at local sports store where can go get fingerprints and your suppressor is delivered there. Everything is on line, take your passport picture and upload. Silencer Shop then sends the documents you need to sign and you can purchase a trust online for $25. I agree, that trust is the way to go. You have the ability to add people that can legally use the suppressor without your presence.
I have 7 suppressors all from Silencer Shop. Last 2 I bought, one took 4 days the other took 7 or 8 days.