Suppressors For .22 - No Special Licensing?

[Abraham]

Recently, I spoke with a company selling suppressors and threaded barrels for a .22 cal pistol and was informed by the sales person that special licensing is required.

I replied, I thought that some form of Federal (Class 3?) license was required to own a suppressor, but perhaps this isn't so for a .22 cal.? She simply said she could ship me the barrel and all I had to do was find someone with an FFL license, like a gun store or individual, to receive the suppressor and then obtain it from them.

Anyone know the particulars?

Thanks!

P.S. The cost for the barrel and suppressor are a bit on the high side of $700.00 total, so I doubt I'll buy such. If a special license is required, I'm definitely not buying... I don't want it that badly.

Thanks!

[Abraham]

Whoops - She said NO special licensing is required.

(I proofread it and still left out the "NO" - arrggghhh!)

[Keith B]

If it is a TRUE suppressor, then yeah, they all they need to do is ship it to an FFL for you to get it from, but that FFL better be a Class 3 and you will have to fill out all of the info and get the Tax stamp and LEO sign-off.

Are you sure these weren't compensator's and not suppressors?

[Abraham]

Keith B,

Thanks for the prompt response and yes, it's a true suppressor.

She didn't mention any of the information you provided, but simply stated I would need an FFL to ship it to and then I'd get if from him or her.

At this point I'm not going to pursue it any further.

I wanted it so my neighbors wouldn't be bothered listening to my target shooting in the back yard. I live out in the country, but would rather not subject them to the noise, though many of my neighbors don't worry about it when they do their shooting...oh well.

[Keith B]

Keith B,

Thanks for the prompt response and yes, it's a true suppressor.

She didn't mention any of the information you provided, but simply stated I would need an FFL to ship it to and then I'd get if from him or her.

At this point I'm not going to pursue it any further.

I wanted it so my neighbors wouldn't be bothered listening to my target shooting in the back yard. I live out in the country, but would rather not subject them to the noise, though many of my neighbors don't worry about it when they do their shooting...oh well.

Do you remember the name of the company? Maybe they have some method that makes it a semi-suppressor and doesn't make it require the Class 3.

[Abraham]

Keith B,

Yes, Tactical Solutions.

[Keith B]

Your sales lady was misleading you. Tactical Solutions suppressors are Class III. See http://www.tacticalsol.com/store/pc/vie ... oduct=1052" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and in red letters it clearly states Class III.

[Oldgringo]

Abraham wrote:

I wanted it so my neighbors wouldn't be bothered listening to my target shooting in the back yard. I live out in the country, but would rather not subject them to the noise, though many of my neighbors don't worry about it when they do their shooting...oh well.

That's a rather noble sentiment; however, isn't one of the main reasons for living in the country is to...er, uh...well, live in the country?

[Mike1951]

I have seen Class III sellers purposely misrepresent the difficulty of jumping through all the hoops.

In some cases, they collect your money and it then becomes your problem if you can't get the required signature.

Research forming a corporation or trust or find out about obtaining the signature BEFORE you spend any money.

[Rugrash]

Call Robert at http://www.talonarms.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(713) 529-2910

We are a tactical solutions dealer and can walk you through the process. If you buy from Talon, Rob will do your Form-4's and not charge any transfer fees if you pick it up locally. Just call him and he'll clear up any misinformation that it sounds like you received. There is no license just a one-time tax of $200. If you live in a county where you can get a CLEO signoff then do it as an individual. If you can't go that route, you can go via a revocable living trust or an LLC is you already have on set up. I went the trust route b/c nobody would sign in Harris county, but now we're hearing that Adrian Garcia will sign. You can buy Quicken Willmaker Plus to create your trust. A lawyer will cost you anywhere from $600-$800 to do a trust. Mine cost me $49.99 plus tax. The timeframe is about 3 months right now to get BATFE approval.

Here is a FAQ that we have put together on another forum:

Qualifications

- Must be Able to Legally Purchase a Firearm (Per 18 USC 922 Subsection D & Texas 46.xx)
- 21 Years of Age

If you pass a NICS background check or have a CHL you should be fine.

Definitions

BATFE - Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also known as ATF

NFA - National Firearms Act, the 1934 law which restricted the types of firearms discussed in this document

NFA Registry - List maintained by the ATF of all machineguns, suppressors, and other NFA items.

SBR - Short Barreled Rifle

SBS – Short Barreled Shotgun

DD – Destructive Device, this would include a street sweeper or other devices with a bore over .5 inch, and, incendiary or explosive devices
Form 4 -Document submitted in duplicate to ATF listing information regarding transferor and transferee information. This is the document where the original tax stamp is affixed when the transfer is approved.
AOW - Any Other Weapon, pen guns, cane guns, Serbu Super Shorty, or similar usually fall into this category and only require a $5 tax stamp instead of the $200 required for other NFA items.

CLEO - Chief Law Enforcement Officer, this is the person, usually a sheriff or chief of police who is in charge of the area where you have your primary residence. This person is the one allowable by ATF to sign section 17 of the form 4 regarding law enforcement certification.

GOPA - Law enacted May 18th 1986 freezing the NFA registry preventing any additional civilian transferable machinegun from entering the market. Those weapons registered with the ATF before that date are still lawful to transfer and command a premium price. An example of the price increase is evident in the ability of a law enforcement agency to buy a fully automatic M16 type rifle for the same price ($900-$2200) as a civilian AR15. For a Civilian to purchase the same M16 style rifle it would have had to been listed in the registry prior to 5/18/1986 and those prices range from $9,000-$20,000 depending on conversion or collectability.

Transferable - Refers to Machineguns on the NFA Registry before enactment on the 1986 Gun Owners Protection Act. These are the machineguns that can still be traded/owned by civilians.
Pre86 Dealer Sample - Machineguns which came into the US after the 1968 Gun Control Act and were restricted to Military, Law Enforcement, or Class III distributors. These weapons are less expensive than fully transferable machineguns but significantly more than Post 86 dealer samples. These premium charged for these is due to the ability of a Class III FFL to keep the weapon if the FFL license is no longer maintained and the person no longer is in the firearms business.

Post-86 Dealer Sample - Machineguns only available to Law Enforcement or Military buyers. For a Class III dealer to receive this weapon a demo letter is required from an authorized purchaser requesting a demonstration. Should a Class III dealer drop their FFL these must be immediately transferred to an authorized entity such as the Military, Law Enforcement or another Class III dealer who has a demo letter.

Costs:

- $200 Tax Stamp Fee for anything except an AOW, $5 for an AOW
- Fingerprinting and Passport Photographs (if doing an individual purchase)
- Dealer Transfer Fees (If Any)

Types of Purchase

Individual
The individual purchase is the well known way to buy an NFA item. This is where you are the one listed as Transferee on the form 4 and must visit your local Sheriff or other Chief Law Enforcement Officer for a signature on the back of the form 4. The protocol for this step varies from Department or Organization. Some do a preliminary background check, others want to talk with you and some simply sign knowing the ATF runs an FBI check before a transfer is completed regardless of local sign off. Your transfer dealer is the best source for information about going this route in your area.

Corporation
A corporate purchase is a common route for a business owner. This route removes the need for a law enforcement sign off, photo, or fingerprints. An FBI background check is still run on corporate officers and the ATF needs to be notified if there is a change of any responsible parties. More information on this route is beyond the scope of this document but this is an attractive option for those with a small or family business. Individuals have been known to create a corporate entity for the sole purpose of turning NFA items into investments. Those that did such before May 1986 when the Gun Owners Protection Act (GOPA) went into effect have realized healthy profits. Before the GOPA HK sears which were the registered conversion part allowing a semi auto HK or clone firearm to function full auto were only a couple hundred dollars. These sears now trade in the 11-14 thousand dollar range in 2009. A simple issue of supply and demand has greatly elevated prices.

Trust
A trust is a legal entity that is created to hold assets that is separate from your person. Often used for wills as a way to hold assets and define trustees to manage those assets in the event of your death. Since a trust is an entity that can own assets it is treated the same as a corporation for the purpose of purchasing NFA items. This route also removes the need for a law enforcement sign off, photo, or fingerprints. An FBI background check is still run on trustees of the trust and the ATF needs to be notified if there is a change of any responsible parties.

Find a Dealer

The first thing to do is to find your suppressor at a solid Class 3 / SOT dealer. A good dealer will help you through the process, and have local knowledge that is invaluable.

Filling Out the Form 4 and Obtaining the Necessary Items

Filling out the Form 4 should be done with the supervision of an experienced dealer to ensure it will be processed smoothly. Otherwise you run the risk of excessive delays, denial, or other unforeseen complications. Most Class 3 dealers will do this as a service.

Mailing and Waiting

This is the part that takes the time. Your dealer will be able to provide more information regarding current times. In the last 3 years times have ranged from 4 – 24 weeks.

Once both of the Form 4s are completed you will place them in an envelope along with a $200 check/money order, citizenship statement and copy of your trust or articles of incorporation, if a corporate entity or trust purchase is chosen, addressed to the BATFE. Upon receipt of the forms and fee the ATF will assign the transfer to an agent and an FBI background check will be processed on the individual, corporate officers listed in a corporate transfer, or trustees listed in a trust. Once approved one copy of the Form 4 will then be mailed back to the person who sold you the NFA item, and you will be able to then obtain your toy. During this time you are able to call the ATF and once you provide the serial number and your name they are able to give you status updates. This is a privilege so try and be patient.

[rm9792]

Well she was right about there is no "licensing" required, but that was about it.

[Abraham]

Thanks all for the very informative specifics regarding what it takes to own a suppressor, but I'd rather pull my own teeth out than jump through all those hoops...

I'll live without one.

[Rugrash]

Thanks all for the very informative specifics regarding what it takes to own a suppressor, but I'd rather pull my own teeth out than jump through all those hoops...

I'll live without one.

It's really not that bad. Like I mentioned before, we do the BATFE paperwork for you. The hardest part is WAITING for their approval...sorta like waiting for your CHL to arrive in the mail.

[Abraham]

Oldgringo,

Yes, you are of course right, but it's just the way I roll...or limp, as the case may be.

[marksiwel]

I've heard the Austin Chief wont sign for off on Suppressors, but is cool with Short barreled and Machine guns.

If you dont own large amounts of land, where do you shoot a full auto in Texas?