Frequently Asked Questions
Suppressor Knowledge
What are the benefits of using a suppressor?
The most important benefit is the increased enjoyment of the sport from both the shooter and the people or animals around them. Suppressors not only reduce the sound pressure level (noise) of the discharged round, they reduce recoil and can increase accuracy. Reduction of recoil can lead to faster subsequent target acquisitions perfect for sporting, hunting, and law enforcement applications.
Suppressor or silencer? Is there a difference?
The terms suppressor and silencer are synonymous. Either term can be used, but we prefer the term suppressor. The term "silencer" is misleading as you can't make a firearm completely silent. Simply put, a suppressor reduces the sound level of a discharged round, but does not completely silence it. Other great benefits of suppressor use on a firearm are: reduced recoil, reduced muzzle blast, eliminating muzzle flash, increased accuracy, and most important, a more enjoyable shooting experience for everyone.
Legalities
Are suppressors, short barrel rifles (SBRs), or machine guns legal to own?
Yes, if you live in a state that allows private ownership. See additional FAQs below for specific states.
Which states allow private ownership of a suppressor?
The following states allow private ownership of a suppressor:
Alabama (AL)
Arkansas (AR)
Alaska (AK)
Arizona (AZ)
Colorado (CO)
Connecticut (CT)
Florida (FL)
Georgia (GA)
Iowa (IA)
Idaho (ID)
Indiana (IN)
Kansas (KS)
Kentucky (KY)
Louisiana (LA)
Maryland (MD)
Maine (ME)
Michigan (MI)
Mississippi (MS)
Minnesota (MN)
Missouri (MO)
Montana (MT)
North Dakota (ND)
Nebraska (NE)
Nevada (NV)
New Hampshire (NH)
New Mexico (NM)
North Carolina (NC)
Ohio (OH)
Oklahoma (OK)
Oregon (OR)
Pennsylvania (PA)
South Carolina (SC)
South Dakota (SD)
Tennessee (TN)
Texas (TX)
Utah (UT)
Virginia (VA)
Vermont (VT)
Washington (WA)
Wisconsin (WI)
West Virginia (WV)
Wyoming (WY)
Which states allow private ownership of a short barrel rifle (SBR)?
The following states allow private ownership of a short barreled rifle (SBR):
Alabama (AL)
Arkansas (AR)
Alaska (AK)
Arizona (AZ)
Colorado (CO)
Connecticut (CT) *Must comply with AWB.
Delaware (DE) *Prohibited in Wilmington
Florida (FL)
Georgia (GA)
Iowa (IA)
Idaho (ID)
Illinois (IL) *C&R FFLs Only
Indiana (IN)
Kansas (KS)
Kentucky (KY)
Louisiana (LA)
Maryland (MD) *Consult state law and AWB
Massachusetts (MA)
Maine (ME)
Michigan (MI) *May require local registration. Can not ship to a residence.
Mississippi (MS)
Minnesota (MN) *Consult state-level laws
Missouri (MO)
Montana (MT)
North Dakota (ND)
Nebraska (NE)
Nevada (NV)
New Hampshire (NH)
New Mexico (NM)
North Carolina (NC)
Ohio (OH)
Oklahoma (OK)
Oregon (OR)
Pennsylvania (PA) * FFL/SOT Only. Can not ship to a residence.
South Carolina (SC)
South Dakota (SD)
Tennessee (TN)
Texas (TX)
Utah (UT)
Virginia (VA)
Vermont (VT)
Washington (WA)
*Must comply with AWB
Wisconsin (WI)
West Virginia (WV)
Wyoming (WY)
Which states allow private ownership of a short barrel shotgun (SBS)?
The following states allow private ownership of a short barrel shotgun:
Alabama (AL)
Arkansas (AR)
Alaska (AK)
Arizona (AZ)
Colorado (CO)
Connecticut (CT) *Must comply with AWB.
Florida (FL)
Georgia (GA)
Iowa (IA)
Idaho (ID)
Indiana (IN)
Kansas (KS)
Kentucky (KY)
Louisiana (LA)
Maryland (MD) *Consult state law and AWB
Massachusetts (MA)
Maine (ME)
Michigan (MI) *May require local registration
Mississippi (MS)
Missouri (MO)
Montana (MT)
North Dakota (ND)
Nebraska (NE)
Nevada (NV)
New Hampshire (NH)
New Mexico (NM)
North Carolina (NC)
Ohio (OH)
Oklahoma (OK)
Oregon (OR)
Pennsylvania (PA)
South Carolina (SC)
South Dakota (SD)
Tennessee (TN)
Texas (TX)
Utah (UT)
Virginia (VA)
Vermont (VT)
Wisconsin (WI)
West Virginia (WV)
Wyoming (WY)
Which states allow private ownership of a machine gun?
The following states allow private ownership of a machine gun:
Alabama (AL)
Arkansas (AR)
Alaska (AK)
Arizona (AZ)
Colorado (CO)
Florida (FL)
Georgia (GA)
Idaho (ID)
Indiana (IN)
Kansas (KS)
Kentucky (KY)
Louisiana (LA)
Maryland (MD) *Consult state law and AWB
Massachusetts (MA) *Special license required
Maine (ME)
Michigan (MI) *May require local registration
Mississippi (MS)
Missouri (MO)
Montana (MT)
North Dakota (ND)
Nebraska (NE)
Nevada (NV)
New Hampshire (NH)
New Mexico (NM)
North Carolina (NC)
Ohio (OH)
Oklahoma (OK)
Oregon (OR)
Pennsylvania (PA)
South Carolina (SC)
South Dakota (SD)
Tennessee (TN)
Texas (TX)
Utah (UT)
Virginia (VA)
Vermont (VT) *Must be registered with state
Wisconsin (WI) *Rifle cartridges only
West Virginia (WV)
Wyoming (WY)
Who can own a suppressor, short barrel rifle (SBR), or machine gun?
Anyone who is a legal U.S. citizen, 18 years of age and older*, a non-felon, and lives in a state which allows private ownership of a suppressor, short barrel rifle, or machine gun. Typically, if you can buy a handgun, you can buy a suppressor.
*To legally purchase a suppressor from a dealer, you must be at least 21 years of age. Those 18 years of age and older may purchase a suppressor privately from another individual or may possess one as a beneficiary of a trust or member of a corporation.
Do I need to have a Class 3 license to own a suppressor, short barrel rifle, or machine gun?
No, you do not need to have a license to own one. You will need to pay a one-time $200 tax to the ATF for each suppressor, short barrel rifle, or machine gun you purchase. We charge you the $200 fee at the time of purchase and pay the BATFE on your behalf.
Can I travel with my suppressor, short barrel rifle (SBR), or machine gun?
If you are traveling out of state with a suppressor, you can do so freely to other suppressor friendly states. If you are traveling by air, you will need to declare and check the suppressor as a firearm at the check-in counter.
If you are traveling out of state with any other NFA item, you must submit form 5320.20, in duplicate, to:
BATFE
ATTN: NFA Branch
244 Needy Road
Martinsburg, WV 25405
Please keep in mind approvals can take 2-3 months and must occur prior to out of state travel.
Ordering
How do I purchase a suppressor or other NFA item online with Capitol Armory?
Capitol Armory makes NFA ownership a simple process.
Choose your Suppressor - Watch our videos, read detailed reviews, or call for expert advice.
Place your order - We automatically collect the $200 ATF tax stamp during checkout.
Complete your profile - Using our online tools, enter your transferee information and upload your photo and trust (if applicable) so we can prepare your NFA paperwork. We can help you set up a 50-state legal Trust.
Submit your fingerprints - Upload an EFT file for instant delivery, or mail a completed FD-258 card. Take your own prints at home with our kit, or visit one of our nearby fingerprint partners. We digitize every set for electronic submission and store them securely for future orders.
Review and sign electronically - We handle the paperwork, have you sign digitally, and submit your paperwork electronically to the ATF (eForms optional).
Wait for your Form 4 approval - Kick back and relax. You can gauge the arrival of your approval by using our real-time estimates.
For repeat orders, you skip directly to the digital signature step. When the ATF signs off, we ship to your residence, or if you are in Texas, you may pick up at our Cedar Park shop.
If I don't live in Texas, can I still buy an NFA item from Capitol Armory?
Absolutely. You don’t need to live in Texas to purchase an NFA item from Capitol Armory. We have streamlined the process for customers in all NFA-friendly states, handling everything from the electronic Form 4 submission to shipping the item directly to your door once approved by the ATF.
Are there any other fees when purchasing from Capitol Armory?
Unlike other dealers, we do not charge a fee for processing your BATFE forms or collecting your BATFE $200 registration fee (NFA items). All fees are shown in your cart before you place your order. The only additional fees if paying by credit card, check, or money order are sales tax, shipping, and the BATFE transfer fee.
What happens after I place my order?
All customers purchasing through our site receive detailed instructions on how to complete their purchase both onscreen and via email.
Accessory Orders
Absolutely nothing! Wait for your tracking number via email. All accessory orders are shipped the same day, or the next business day if placed after mail pick-up.
NFA Items
For new customers, within one business day of placing your order, we will send out two emails with detailed instructions on creating your Customer Profile and getting your fingerprints to us. For existing customers, within two business days, we will send an email to sign your forms digitally via DocuSign.
Firearms
When placing your order, let us know your FFL of choice in the order comments. They will then need to send us a copy of their FFL to [email protected]. Firearms are shipped within 24 business hours of receiving your dealer's FFL information.
Does Capitol Armory offer layaway?
We do not offer layaway at this time.
BATFE Approval
What are the current ATF wait times?
The current ATF approval dates are found here : https://stagingv2.capitolarmory.com/support/atf-form4-approvals-dates.html
How will I know if/when my suppressor is approved?
eFile Applications - The BATFE will notify both parties, Capitol Armory and you, upon approval. We will then email you approval details within the day.
Paper Applications - The BATFE notifies Capitol Armory when your transfer is approved. We then notify you via email.
Receiving Your Order
How can I pick up my suppressor after it's approved?
If you're a Texas resident, you can pick up the suppressor from our shop in Cedar Park, Texas, or we can ship it to your primary residence.
For customers outside of Texas, we will ship directly to your residence.
Can my approved suppressor be shipped directly to my residence?
For anyone in a suppressor-friendly state, you're approved suppressor can be shipped directly to your residence. We will have you digitally fill out a BATFE Form 4473, affidavit, and provide a copy of your current government-issued identification. We then issue a notice to your local CLEO and confirm receipt. After a seven (7) day waiting period, the suppressor can be mailed directly to your residence. Having a suppressor mailed to your residence adds about two weeks to the delivery date of your suppressor due to the seven day waiting period and USPS mail delivery, but it eliminates the need for you to travel.
NFA/Class 3 Terms
What is a Form 4 BATFE transfer?
Put simply, it is a request to transfer ownership of an NFA item to or from a non-dealer. A Form 4 is used to transfer NFA items (suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, AOWs, or machine guns) from Capitol Armory to a private owner (individual), trust, or corporate entity. Transferring an NFA item to a non-dealer requires a $200 transfer tax, unless the item is considered an AOW, for which the transfer tax is $5.
What is a Form 3 BATFE transfer?
It is a request to transfer ownership of an NFA item from one dealer to another dealer. Transfer times for Form 3 transfers (dealer to dealer) are much shorter than dealer to non-dealer transfers and do not incur a $200 transfer tax.
What is electronic filing (eForm)?
In August 2013, the BATFE launched the eForms system for the processing of Form 3 and Form 4 transfers. The move to an electronic system has simplified the process for the transferee/purchaser and has decreased the amount of time it takes for an approval. Capitol Armory utilizes the eForm system for all Form 3 transfers and all Form 4 transfers unless specificically instructed otherwise.
Use of the eForms system has dramatically cut down the amount of time it takes to approve a transfer, as no physical mailing of paperwork is required.
What is a FFL / SOT?
A FFL is a federal firearms licensee, put simply a firearms dealer.
A SOT is a FFL who can deal, import or manufacture NFA weapons. Only FFLs who have paid to become a SOT may deal in NFA / Class 3 weapons.
What does NFA stand for?
NFA stands for the National Firearms Act. The National Firearms Act requires NFA firearms to be registered and taxed. Weapons which fall under the NFA are: machine guns, short barreled rifles (SBRs), short barreled shotguns (SBSs), Suppressors, Destructive Devices (DDs), and Any Other Weapons (AOWs).
Weapons that fall under the NFA are also referred to as Class 3 weapons and Title II weapons.