Please review our short NFA informational guide below, as it will help with the most common questions about getting started on your first suppressor or other NFA item purchase.

State by state legal breakdown

• Suppressors

  As of early 2023, 42 states allow ownership of suppressors. Of those, 41 allow suppressor usage for hunting, but only Vermont does not allow the usage of suppressors for hunting.

  States in which suppressors are not allowed:

  • California
  • Deleware
  • District of Columbia (Washington DC)
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Rhode Island

  If your state is not in the list above, congratulations! Please note that while legal at the state level, some local jurisdictions may prohibit ownership.

• Short Barrel Rifles

  As of early 2023, 44 states allow ownership of short-barrel rifles.

  States in which short barrel rifles are not allowed:

  • California
  • District of Columbia (Washington DC)
  • Hawaii
  • Maryland
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Rhode Island

  If your state is not in the list above, congratulations! Please note that while legal at the state level, some local jurisdictions may prohibit ownership.

• Short Barrel Shotguns

  As of early 2023, 41 states allow ownership of short-barrel shotguns.

  States in which short barrel shotguns are not allowed:

  • California
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia (Washington DC)
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Minnesota
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Rhode Island
  • Washington

  If your state is not in the list above, congratulations! Please note that while legal at the state level, some local jurisdictions may prohibit ownership.

Registering your NFA items with the ATF

• In Your Own Name

  Advantages: You can avoid the initial work required to set up a trust or corporation.

  Disadvantages:

  • Only you can be in possession of the NFA item.
  • Requires signature from chief law-enforcement officer where you live.
  • Requires fingerprint cards.

  Best for:

  • People who don't plan to buy many NFA items.
  • People who want to get the buying process started quickly.
  • People who always plan to be present when the suppressor is in use.
• A Trust

  Advantages:

  • Anyone listed as a trustee in the trust can be in possession of the NFA item.
  • A revocable trust can be changed at any time without notifying the ATF.
  • You only need to create the trust once. The same trust can be used for all future suppressors or other NFA items (such as short-barreled rifles).

  Disadvantages:

  • Some initial work and cost are required to establish the trust.
  • In some states, a trust must be registered with the state.
  • Requires fingerprint cards and chief law-enforcement officer notice to add members.

  Best for:

  • People with family members who want to share possession of the NFA items.
  • People who want to go together with friends on the purchase.
  • People who want more flexibility in the long run.

  Here are a few trust law firms we are aware of however we are not affiliated in any way with any of them, nor are we endorsing them.

  • Gun Trust Lawyer
  • NFA Lawyers
  • 199trust.com
  • RMP (Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri)
  • Texas NFA Trust (Texas)
• A Corporation

  Advantages:

  • Any officer of the corporation can be in possession of the NFA item.
  • If you already have a corporation, this can be easier than a trust since you will avoid the initial trust setup.
  • No signature from the local chief law-enforcement officer is required, but notification will be required.

  Disadvantages:

  • You need to keep your corporation in good standing, which can be more work than a trust.

  Best for:

  • Anyone who already owns a corporation and wants that corporation to act as the owner of the NFA items.

Taking possession

• Class 3 NFA Dealer Finder

  Below are two different Class 3 SOT lookup tools you can use to determine available SOT dealers in your area. Wilson Combat does not endorse any specific dealer.

  Silencer Shop

  FFL 123

• General Information

  We can't ship a suppressor/NFA firearm directly to your house; you must locate an FFL holder in your state with a Class 2 or 3 SOT (Special Occupational Taxpayer License) that can handle the transfer for you. We can even help you locate an FFL/SOT holder in your area if you haven't already dealt with one.

  You won't be able to take possession of the suppressor/NFA firearm until all transfer steps have been completed. The first step is the transfer between Wilson Combat and your SOT dealer. The second step is the approval of your Form 4 by the ATF, at which time the SOT dealer can transfer the NFA item to you.

  As of mid-2024, it typically takes 1-2 business weeks to obtain approval to ship NFA items to your receiving SOT on an electronic Form 3. The Form 4 approval times vary. The ATF Current Processing Times page gives the ATF's current estimates on approval times.

  The ATF National Firearms Act (NFA) FAQ page has additional information that you may find helpful.

• Basic Purchase Process and Information

  A summary of the purchase process for NFA items is presented below.

  1. Identify the item you want to purchase and ensure it is legal in your state. Pay for the item either online or by contacting us.
  2. If ordering online, you must select a receiving dealer as part of the checkout process. Please ensure the selected dealer is both a Class 2 or Class 3 SOT and will accept the inbound transfer of your item. You can locate a Class 3 SOT dealer by using the lookup tools found in the "Class 3 NFA Dealer Finder" section above.
  3. If calling in to place your order, you will need to provide us with that SOT dealer's contact or license information that has agreed to accept the inbound transfer of your item. You can locate a Class 3 SOT dealer by using the lookup tools found int the "Class 3 NFA Dealer Finder" section above.
  4. Wilson Combat will transfer the NFA item to your receiving SOT using an eForm 3. After the eForm 3 is approved, the NFA item will be shipped to your receiving SOT.
  5. The NFA item will remain in the SOT dealer's inventory until the ATF has approved your individual or trust Form 4 and issued your tax stamp.

  
  

  ADDITIONAL PURCHASE NOTES:

  • Wilson Combat will file the eForm 3 to transfer the NFA item to your receiving SOT.
  • If you want to file an eForm 4 (ensuring you will receive approval much faster than filing a paper Form 4), you must sit down with your receiving SOT in person. The SOT with the NFA item in inventory (your receiving SOT) must file the eForm 4--but you must be there to enter the required information.
  • It is recommended that you obtain the required fingerprints electronically in the ".eft" format if you plan to file an eForm 4.
  • If you will file an eForm 4, you must have your ATF E-Forms account established ahead of time. Click here to create your ATF E-Forms account. You will need your username (looks like jsmith76451) and PIN in order to complete the eForm 4 with your receiving SOT.
  • If you will obtain your fingerprints on paper cards, you will need 2 copies of the cards for each Form 4 you will be submitting. You will be required to mail these in separately if an eForm 4 was filed, or with your paper Form 4.
  • You will need a head and shoulders (passport style) photograph in an electronic format to complete the eForm 4.
  • You will need a head and shoulders (passport style) photograph in a printed form to complete the paper Form 4.

  
  

  NFA items returned to Wilson Combat due to the purchaser's inability to legally take possession of the item will result in a 25% restocking fee per item.

Please note we have done our best to ensure this information is accurate and current; however, the final responsibility for compliance with all customer-specific NFA-related regulations will be on the customer.