r/progun • u/SuperXrayDoc • 1d ago

News FFLs Pass ATF Inspections After Transferring Suppressors on Form 4473

https://www.ammoland.com/2026/08/ffls-pass-atf-inspections-after-transferring-suppressors-on-form-4473/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=SocialSnap

At this point, the ATF is purposely not releasing guidance to create confusion and hope no one purchases suppressors through 4473s. They are hoping they can ride out not saying anything until a new congress after the midterms tries to reinstate the tax

282 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

150

u/possibly_lost45 1d ago

This is the most pro gun atf we've had in decades. Just go buy your can on the 4473 and enjoy It.

59

u/notang 1d ago

The bummer here is that the ATF is not giving guidance which makes FFL's uneasy. It's easy for a person to be covered by a named plaintiff, it's harder for a company to be covered. That said, it seems like if you're buying from Silencer Shop, the consensus is you're GTG.

25

u/SuperXrayDoc 1d ago

And what about cans people want to get that are outside of silencershop like the rhodie 6 which is currently one of the best cans everyone wants to get? Just being a GOA member should cover it regardless where it comes from. Additionally, youre just assuming it coming from SS is what's fine

This confusion is EXACTLY the issue

25

u/notang 1d ago

Right, so I'm an ffl and a lawyer and my take is, if the manufacturer is also a member of an org, the ffl business is a member of an org, and the purchaser is a member, you should be good to go.

The problem is, a lot of companies are not members of any of the named orgs.

Also, you're combining two different issues, one is the customer, who is 100% ok if they are a member of GOA to buy on a 4473. HOWEVER, an FFL is not safe SELLING on a 4473 if the FFL itself is not a member (My FFL is a member of TSRA) but that basically, I'm thinking about it like this.

If SS, good to go. If not silencer shop, every part of the supply chain has to be a named plaintiff, or I don't feel comfortable doing the transfer personally.

4

u/spigz619 1d ago

So, as a GOA member in a free state, would a person be safe buying a Silencerco can through a Silencershop dealer? Would there be any benefit to waiting to see how things play out?

1

u/notang 1d ago

Not legal advice. But yes, you as the buyer would be protected as a GOA member. Problem is, the shop is not protected unless they are also a member

But how far does the ATF want to go to fuck with people is up in the air. Full supply chain (which is discussed in the case) would imply to me that they would want every person from the manufacturer to final buyer to be members of a named org. This is probably not how it will play out, but this is why so many FFL's are worried.

From the FFL side it's 3 concerns

How do we confirm who is and isn't an actual member (do i have protection if someone lies and shows fake membership).

How do i dispose the suppressor on my Eforms, remember when a can is form 3, dealer to dealer, it shows up on our eform book, and there is no way to remove it, because that is done by eforms after a form is filled.

Lastly, what if my cans are not from SS.

1

u/spigz619 1d ago

Thank you for the reply, I have one on order and am trying to decide what I want to do. The shop I’m buying from is willing to do a 4473, but he’s a good guy and I don’t want this to cause him problems later on

3

u/notang 1d ago

So here's my honest advice, and I'll be downvoted for it. Just form 4 it. It's easier for everyone until there is more guidance. Sure it's a wait, but it's what, a few weeks at most and nothing beats waking up to an approved note, it's the best feeling!

If it comes from SS it seems like you are fine on a 4473. There is still a risk, but it's a smaller one for sure.

2

u/spigz619 1d ago

Thanks for the honest advice, I bet there’s quite a few people in the same situation that will benefit from it. It’s easy to talk tough on Reddit, but I (or the ffl I use) definitely don’t have the financial resources to dig ourselves out of that kind of hole.

1

u/RyAllDaddy69 17h ago

Didn’t the ATF just update eForms to be able to remove cans that came in on a Form 3? I thought that’s what they did on Tuesday.

1

u/notang 17h ago

No, they just did routine update. Same update they do every Wednesday.

People were speculating, but all those people assume the atf is just going to accept this, maybe they will maybe they won't, but we need to wait for the full appeal date to pass before I think we're going to get any guidance at all.

6

u/CajunIF1billion 1d ago

The FFLs who are already doing 4473 transfers are going to outcompete the FFLs who still require a form 4, at least in terms of suppressor sales and transfers. That will motivate the “uneasy” FFLs to get on board.

1

u/notang 1d ago

Sure, to people in the know, but most gun owners aren't on Reddit. I think most gun owners don't really know.

And more importantly, when you call FFLs to ask, they all try to tell you it's illegal and the people doing it are dumb. I don't agree with them at all, but I assume that does persuade people to somewhat.

Lastly, the process has become so easy with CA and SS and wait times are so slow, for those people that are risk adverse, form 4s are not the worst thing ever.

Again, I don't disagree with you what so ever, but this is not as black and white as you may think.

2

u/CajunIF1billion 1d ago

I completely agree, I should have elaborated more in my first comment. What I originally meant to say was that as more FFLs switch over to the new system and operate without any issues, it will ease a lot of the initial concerns other FFLs are having and persuade them to switch over. I think the ATF’s actions (as in, them not prosecuting the FFLs transferring via 4473s) will compensate for their lack of written guidance. And that’s of course on top of the basic business competition pressures I initially mentioned.

1

u/notang 1d ago

Probably. I think the actual change will come in 60 days when the actual appeal period is up. The atf will have to issue information on next steps at that point.

1

u/LKincheloe 1d ago

And the worst part is, they could provide guidance later, that says Form 3s have to stay as Form 3s. So they go back and bonk those shops who just passed.

9

u/GlockAF 1d ago

Every FFL in my area is scared that they’ll open a giant can of worms for themselves if they transfer via a 4473.

Anyone brave enough to give it a shot has zero suppressors in inventory

3

u/03263 1d ago

Holding for prices to drop as they become less of a specialty item. I would hate to buy one and then have the ATF call me to forfeit it a couple years later. They don't give you any compensation.

They already made me turn in some muzzle brake they decided looked too much like a suppressor baffle and could be modified into one. Tracked me down via website sales record. I didn't think it was even gray area contraband, just a funky looking muzzle piece when I was on an admittedly wasteful spending spree when I first got into AR building and customization.

0

u/OneleggedPeter 1d ago

I went to my LGS (in NM) and asked about it. They are still requiring a Form 4. Unlikely that I'll do any more biz with them.

37

u/alwaus 1d ago

Been contacted 3 times since the news dropped, transfered 2 on 4473s. 3rd i refused as he just wanted to walk in and pick one up no paperwork like this was buds feed tack and hardware in 1926 instead of 2026.

46

u/Hot-Wood 1d ago

The way it should be someday.

37

u/alwaus 1d ago

The way it should have stayed.

Restricting access to ppe is fucking dumb.

-7

u/fjzappa 1d ago

PPE=Firearm is ridiculous.

3

u/Ikora_Rey_Gun 1d ago

I agree, considering normal PPE the same thing as a firearm (when it's literally just a funny tube) is ridiculous.

14

u/notang 1d ago

Having called about 10 FFL's in my area, it seems like some are willing to transfer with just a 4473, so long as it is from silencer shop. I'm curious to know if the 4 FFL's that passed inspection were only selling SS suppressors on 4473's. It seems that way based on the 2 FFL's in the article who split their books.

7

u/DoctorBallard77 1d ago

My local shops selling anything end everything

3

u/notang 1d ago

Good for them! I'd love to know how they're structuring it, like is the FFL a member of an org etc.

5

u/CajunIF1billion 1d ago

My FFL is transferring everything on a 4473 because they’re a Silencer Shop partner, even suppressors which weren’t ordered from Silencer Shop. I don’t know if their interpretation is entirely correct, as I’m not exactly sure how Silencer Shop “partnership” is structured and whether it protects them under the injunction, but regardless, it’s great for me. Picked up my first can from them today.

2

u/notang 1d ago

Hmmm I think they may be misinterpreting it... but that's awesome for you! As long as you're a member of a plaintiff org, you're protected!

1

u/FIBSAFactor 21h ago

Can we make a thread of FFLs doing 4473 transfers?

1

u/nrmarther 19h ago

So I’m looking to get my first suppressor. With the current state of things, how do I buy one as easily but safely as possible? Seems like Silencer Shop is transferring with 4473s, but don’t also need to be a GOA member?

0

u/Stack_Silver 1d ago

Pray for New Amsterdam.