What is a Silencer?
Silencers make shooting better, plain and simple. A silencer is the best accessory you can get for your firearm; they save your ears, reduce recoil and flash, and put a smile on your face every time you pull the trigger. Most folks define suppressors or silencers as any device designed to reduce the signature of a firearm. To get the most out of your suppressed shooting experience, you’ll want to pair your rifle or pistol with the best suppressor for your use case. For example, the best hunting suppressor likely isn’t the best silencer for doing mag dumps with a machine gun. Each suppressor has unique attributes that allow them to shine in different ways.
To maximize your enjoyment from shooting suppressed and to optimize the performance of your firearm and suppressor, you need to pick the right tool for the job. We recommend figuring out what capabilities and features take priority for how you intend to use your firearms and silencers. If you have an extensive collection of firearms, you may want a multi-caliber silencer that can accommodate many different guns; if you only go hunting a few times a year, weight and sound are probably the most critical features, and if you’re shooting thousands of rounds every month at training events or shooting competitions, you’ll likely prioritize durability.
National Firearms Act (NFA)
The National Firearms Act (NFA) is a federal law that regulates the manufacture, transfer, and registration of certain firearms. The NFA was passed in 1934 to limit the availability of weapons that were often used in crime during Prohibition. The NFA applies to Machine Guns, Short Barreled shotguns and rifles, silencers and destructive devices. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) oversees the approval of these types of firearms. Each purchase of these types of firearms requires additional paperwork to be completed, purchase of a $200 NFA tax stamp and a waiting period for the approval
Steps to Purchase a Silencer
Purchase a Silencer Your first step is to pick out which silencer you would like to purchase. Take Caliber, barrel length, action of the firearm and its purpose into consideration. The ORA team can help you find a suppressor that is perfect for your needs. The easiest way to purchase a silencer is to stop in the shop and order one through the store. You can also order from the Silencer Shop website. ORA is a Silencer Shop dealer, and any silencer purchased through them will come directly to the shop and there will not be any transfer fees. You can also purchase a silencer through any other business or online retailer. If you choose to go this route there will be a $100 transfer fee for all NFA items. You will also need to notify the shop so we can send the proper licenses to that store so they can ship the silencer to us.
Step 1 Complete Your Silencer Shop Profile If this is your first silencer or your first time using Silencer Shop, visit https://www.silencershop.com/ and create an account. After you create an account stop by the shop and use the Silencer Shop kiosk. The kiosk will scan your fingerprints and demographic information and will be integrated into your Silencer Shop profile. You can also submit your fingerprints using FD-258 fingerprint cards by mailing them to Silencer Shop, electronic files or EFTs will not be accepted. Next, download the Silencer Shop smartphone app, snap a selfie, and upload it to your profile. You’ll need to take a “passport-style” photo. Look straight ahead, shoulders up, no headwear, scarves, or sunglasses, and preferably against a neutral-colored background. Silencer Shop will keep your information and fingerprints on file to be used for future silencer purchases.
Step 2 Create an ATF eForms Account You will also need to make ATF eForms account at https://eforms.atf.gov/. Make sure all your information you enter in eForms is an exact match to your silencer shop account. After making your eForms account you will receive an email from the ATF with your auto generated username. Please take note of the username, password and 4-digit pin because we will need it when we submit your paperwork.
Step 3 ATF Tax Stamp and Trust These stamps are required to register National Firearms Act (NFA) items, such as suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and machine guns. The tax stamp is a one-time expense of $200 per NFA item, paid to the federal government. The stamp is affixed to the document that registers the item and includes details like the item’s serial number and the approval date. Each item requires its own tax stamp. The tax stamp can be purchased on https://www.silencershop.com/.
If you choose to use a trust for your silencer more information can be found below. Please have this completed before your suppressor arrives to avoid any delays.
Step 4 Sign the Electronic Document Once your silencer arrives at the shop, we will assign the suppressor to your Silencer Shop Account. Within 2-3 business days you will receive an email to electronically sign your paperwork for the silencer. Please ensure that your full name and address match your Silencer Shop and eForms accounts exactly.
Step 5 Ready to Certify and Submission to the ATF You’ll receive an email from Silencer Shop with the subject line “Ready to Certify”. Once you receive this email either call or come down to the shop and we can submit your silencer paperwork. You will need to know your ATF eForms username and 4-digit pin for this step. Once your silencer is certified you will receive an email from eForms notifying you that your paperwork has been submitted. After this step it is just a matter of waiting for ATF approval. Current ATF wait times can be found at https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/current-processing-times. (Once silencer paperwork is submitted ORA staff have no control on how long the ATF approval process takes) Once approved you will receive another email from eForms and you can come pick up your silencer.
Registration Types
Choosing how you should register a suppressor is one of the most common questions we get. If you’re unsure which option is right for you, you’re not alone. Currently, there are three different registration methods at your disposal ranging in flexibility and simplicity: Individual, Single Shot Trust, Traditional NFA Trust. Once you’ve narrowed it down, keep scrolling for why some customers might prefer registering one way over the other. We go into more detail and give you real-world customer scenarios that might spark familiarity for you and your situation.
Individual:
As an individual, your silencer will be registered in your name, and only yours. This means you don’t have to, and you legally can’t, share it with anyone if you’re not present. Out of all the options, this one requires the least amount of paperwork, meaning potentially a faster turnaround for getting your suppressor. On the flip side, registering as an individual is the least flexible in terms of being able to “share” your silencer with friends or family. Customer Scenario: You plan on being the only one able to use your silencer and friends or family cannot use your suppressor without you there.
Single Shot Trust:
The Single Shot Trust is for the minimalist NFA connoisseur and can be purchased at silencershop.com. One of the biggest benefits of the Single Shot Trust is the convenience of each silencer having a designated trust. So, you can add or remove certain responsible parties from certain silencers and have the utmost flexibility in your decision making. Customer Scenario: You decide to go hunting with a few buddies who don’t have silencers. You add one friend to a specific silencer’s trust, and the other friend to another trust. This gives your friends and you the benefit of suppression, without giving access to all your other serialized items.
Traditional NFA Trust:
Some customers choose the Traditional NFA trust because the Trust puts all serialized items into one document. This is a great option for people who want to list responsible parties and beneficiaries. Flexibility wise, the Traditional NFA Trust falls somewhere right between Individual and Single Shots. Traditional NFA Trust is great for the customer who wants their trust to dictate who your silencer can be handled by during your life and after.Customer Scenario: You have family and/or friends you whole-heartedly trust with your entire selection of serialized items. They have access to every single item whenever they want.
Changing your filing mind:
The fate of your silencer isn’t set in stone if you choose one way to register and the ATF approves it. However, changing it to a different registration is essentially the same as re-filing for your suppressor from the begenning. You read that right – re-filing requires paperwork, an additional $200 tax stamp, and yes, waiting for approval. And we do see this happen! The most common occurrence is with customers who are looking for more flexibility.