How to purchase a suppressor online

How to Purchase A Suppressor

 

In order to purchase a suppressor from your dealer, you must be at least 21 years of age, a resident of the U.S. residing in one of the 42 states that currently allow civilian ownership of suppressors, and be legally eligible to purchase a firearm. Once you are ready to purchase your suppressor, you will submit the following forms and information to the ATF, and your local CLEO, varying slightly depending upon your method of purchase.

ATF MAILING CHECKLISTINDIVIDUALTRUST
ATF Form (in duplicate) • •
Passport Photos • •
FBI FD-258 Fingerprint Cards • •
ATF Form 5320.23   •
Copy of Trust Documents   •
$200 Transfer Tax (per suppressor) • •
Sent CLEO Notification • •
with copy of ATF Form 4 • •
with copy of ATF Form 5320.23 (from all Responsible Persons)   •
Wait (way too long) For ATF Approval • •

 

PURCHASING A SUPPRESSOR

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

For those of us that have never before purchased a suppressor at first the process appears to be overwhelming but is quite simple. All you have to do is get started!  I hope to help you with that.

First we need to decide if it is legal for you to own a silencer.

  • Determine whether or not your state allows you to own a silencer.  Private silencer ownership is currently legal in AL, AR, AK, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WE, And WY.

  • Be at least 21 years of age to purchase a silencer from a dealer

  • Be a resident of the United States

  • Be legally eligible to purchase a firearm.

  • You must not have any felony convictions.

  • Be able to pass a NICS background check

BUYING YOUR SUPPRESSOR

Find which silencer meets your needs. Select correct thread pitch, color, mount or piston if those options are applicable. Decide how you will register you silencer. You can register the silencer to yourself as an individual or to a trust or corporation.Find a dealer that has the items you want in stock or can readily get them in a timely manner.

Make your purchase. Have your dealer submit your form 4 application to the ATF with the appropriate documentation and $200 tax for each item.
Pick up your silencer after approval. You can pick you item up directly from the dealer either at their place of business or eligible qualifying event  like a gun show. Your dealer can also ship the silencer directly to you. The shipping option requires an additional step but only adds approximately 14 days to your wait time. Contact your dealer for details.

REGISTER THE SILENCER IN YOUR OWN NAME

Obtain the ATF Form 4 (5320.4) (Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of Firearm) complete the required information on the form, remember to complete all information in duplicate.  Complete the back by answering the questions and stating the reason you are acquiring the silencer. Sign and date the back of the form. Again, remember to complete all information in duplicate.

Affix a recent color passport-sized photograph of yourself on the back of each copy of the form.

Acquire a signature of the chief law enforcement officer of your county or your local sheriff. While you are at the station obtaining the required signature, ink up your fingers and get two copies of FBI fingerprint cards (FBI Form FD-258) that you will send in with the two duplicates of Form 4.
Fill out the ATF Form 5330.20 (Certification of Compliance). This form does not have to be in duplicate.

Place both completed copies of Form 4, the two copies of FBI fingerprint cards, and the completed Certification of Compliance form in an envelope, along with a check or money order (payable to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) for $200 and mail to the address listed on Form 4.

Currently, the following 42 states allow private ownership of suppressors: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY.

Note: Even if you live in one of the states listed, you should still verify that owning a suppressor is legal in your area.

THE 10 MOST COMMON SUPPRESSOR MYTHS I HEAR…

MYTH #1: SILENCERS/SUPPRESSORS ARE ILLEGAL TO OWN Suppressors/silencers/cans, whatever you call them... are completely legal to own, depending on your location. Suppressors are highly regulated under the National Firearms Act of 1934. This is a common myth that suppressors are illegal. Suppressors are currently legal to own in 42 of the 50 states. Prohibited states include California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. (They’re also illegal in the District of Columbia, which doesn’t count as a state.)

As long as you live in a legal state & follow all of the state, and federal laws governing silencer ownership, you can legally own a suppressor. 

MYTH #2: HUNTING WITH SUPPRESSORS IS ILLEGAL Hunting with a suppressor is completely legal in over 40 states! As long as you legally own the suppressor, and follow the local, state, and federal laws that apply to having a suppressor….you can use one for hunting! GSL builds some suppressors specifically for hunting for 350legend, 450bushmaster, and 300blk hunting specific cans. 

MYTH #3: SILENCERS CAN ONLY GO ON ONE WEAPON FOREVER This myth, is 100% false. There are definitely suppressors out there designed for one weapon type, such as some of the integrally suppressed barrels out there and the UZI specific suppressor like the GSL Jericho. Even then, the Jericho can still go on ANY Full Sized or Mini UZI weapon. Suppressors are tied to CALIBER most often. Suppressors are designed based on bullet diameter, and the pressure they can tolerate. For example, most 223 rounds can go through most 308 built suppressors. Lower pressure, and a smaller round. Conversely though, NOT all 223 rounds can go through say all 9mm suppressors. Even though the bullet technically fits through a 9mm hole (0.354) the pressure of a 223 or .308 bullet would blow up many 9mm dedicated cans on the market.

MYTH #4: SILENCERS MAKE GUNS HOLLYWOOD-QUIET James Bond movies and video games REALLY stretch the truth on what a suppressor is capable of. Sometimes this also changes people’s expectations for a suppressor to movie quiet. Unfortunately for Hollywood…. suppressors do NOT make everything about a weapon firing “Silent” They can definitely get the sound levels down to where the shooter is not going to suffer permanent hearing loss, but never completely silent.

MYTH #5: YOU NEED TO HAVE A CLASS 3 LICENSE TO OWN A SILENCER You do not need to BE and Class 2 or Class 3 dealer or have a special license to own a suppressor, you just have to KNOW a licensed, FFL and SOT holding dealer to process the transfer. Any individual person that can legally own a firearm, and lives inside a state that allows suppressors, can own a suppressor. A suppressor purchase is definitely a bit more involved than a firearm, but NO ANNUAL FEES come with owning a suppressor…No special license required for an individual to own one. 

MYTH #6: SILENCERS NEGATIVELY IMPACT VELOCITY OR MAKE THE WEAPON LESS ACCURATE Suppressors are actually INCREDIBLE for shooting. They lower the sound, the shock factor, the muzzle flinch, lower the recoil, and make controlling the weapon easier. They are easier and safer to shoot, and a quality suppressor does not make a weapon less accurate, or slow velocity. They see a slight increased velocity because the extra length gives the bullet a tiny bit longer to accelerate with the gas expansion in the barrel. It’s not a lot…. but it is not a decrease in velocity. A quality suppressor doesn’t make any contact with the bullet, so it’s not going to make your firearms less accurate.

MYTH #7: SILENCERS ARE ASSASINS WEAPONS, AND ONLY HELPFUL FOR MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATIONS Suppressors are not silent, or assassin’s weapons. They lower the sound, the shock factor, the muzzle flinch, lower the recoil, and make controlling the weapon easier. They are easier and safer to shoot, and have many applications for hunters, self-defense, and daily carry weapons. They are great for training new shooters, and helpful for population control of animals without disturbing your neighbors. 

MYTH #8: SILENCERS HAVE A SHORT LIFESPAN Some suppressors are very low quality…they can fall apart after 10-15 rounds or less. The suppressor industry is competitive, and manufacturers sometimes run to the bottom of pricing and materials to make sales….. A quality suppressor will outlive you, and your children. Suppressors of the earliest days sometimes used disposable materials and were known to need to be replaced after a certain lifecycle or firing schedule. Modern technology, advancements in machining and materials have definitely improved the lifespan of suppressors. Most quality manufacturers out there will provide a suppressor that will be built to last. 

MYTH #9: THE GOVERNMENT CAN COME IN YOUR HOUSE UNANNOUNCED FOR AN INSPECTION Believe it or not. I have heard this said more than you would believe. This is totally false. Our 2nd Amendment and 4th amendment rights as US citizens are not waived just because we bought a scary suppressor… Many think that being “On the List” is going to result in additional screening, or additional law enforcement scrutiny – That is also, untrue.

MYTH #10: THERE ARE LONG WAITING PERIODS TO GET A SUPPRESSOR Believe it or not, there is not a Federal or State regulation mandating a “Wait Period” to get a suppressor. It does take a very long time to process one from purchase to taking it home though. Some would even call that lengthy process an infringement on our right to own one…Short answer, it depends on the time it takes to process it. Some have been approved in 8 days, some have taken over 14 months….

READY TO LEARN MORE? I am hoping this document helped to shut down a few suppressor myths you may have heard before. Because of the intense regulation in this industry, many people are nervous getting into suppressed shooting. GSL Technology Suppressors has been building suppressors since 1985. We have heard our fair share of gun store myths about NFA items and suppressors that just have no truth to them at all. Reach out anytime for more info on GSL’s product line, and now you know some more truth on suppressor ownership!