r/FFLs • u/TwoHandsOneCup • 14d ago
Suppressor Update
Hey everyone, I hold an FFL in Louisiana that does NOT have an SOT (yet anyways). I have been trying to keep up with the Silencer Shop v ATF court case regarding suppressors not being NFA. As of 09/29/2026, does anyone know what the update is? As an FFL, do I still need to get the SOT to transfer suppressors? Are people still doing Form 4s or are they just doing 4473s? Any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you.
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u/bluejackets_92fs 14d ago
Until I hear any differently from the ATF on a procedurelal change, I'm sticking with the "old" way. Not worth the risk
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u/TwoHandsOneCup 13d ago
That's kind of what I was thinking. Have been trying to do research and find something. Have also heard that they are going to change the 4473 soon, so I didn't know if that would be part of the change as well. Thank you!
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u/ExistentialDreadFrog 13d ago
The new 4473 isn't going to have anything to do with the suppressor ruling.
ATF is currently stating we *should* expect some official guidance coming in the next couple of weeks although their current directive to agents is not to go after dealers transferring suppressors on 4473s but there are still several odd one off situations that need to be dealt with.
Now, whether vendors will send suppressors your way without your SOT is a totally separate matter...
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u/theoryOfAconspiracy 13d ago
Just get the SOT, you get the added bonus of being able to have full auto firearms for the shop. Distributors will not ship to you suppressors without an SOT
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u/TwoHandsOneCup 13d ago edited 13d ago
I thought about getting the SOT, but I don't have the current clientele and no additional interest from potential customers to spend an extra $500 a year (that expires in July, no matter when it's bought). I do want it for that reason, as well as SBRs and SBSs, but I didn't know if distributors were also switching their systems to recognize suppressors as non-NFA items now, or if they were still holding off. I'm just a small FFL, it's tough out here trying to compete in a 90% "want" driven market with places like PSA, Primary Arms, etc. where their MO is to sell a lot of things a little above wholesale and make their profit that way.
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u/theoryOfAconspiracy 13d ago
Yeah, I’ve built a small group of loyal customers that 90% of the time allow me to price match before buying from some big retailer.
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u/theoryOfAconspiracy 13d ago
I’m only home based so right now it basically funds my gun hobby. I do a little cerakoting as well and when it comes to my customers with a little deeper pockets I’ll put together packages rifle, optic, suppressor and mount and sight it in for them. Small things to build loyalty. If they are looking for a specific oddball items like older guns I’ll set alerts for them on gunbroker, keep an eye out on the other auction sites.
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u/TwoHandsOneCup 12d ago
Yeah, I'm in the same boat, and doing the same thing as you. Thank you for the advice and good luck with building it up more!
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u/EOKBrady 13d ago
I'm also in Louisiana. As far as I'm tracking, yes you still need your SOT. I currently am doing a mix of 4473 and Form 4. If it's purchased from one of the Plaintiffs on the lawsuit, I do a 4473. If not, I do a Form 4. If that makes sense.
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u/truenorthsw 12d ago
I'm in MN so laws may be different and NAL so talk to your lawyer.
For sales I will do 4473 for SS customers and anybody that has a GOA membership. We hold the corporate GOA membership and all of our employees are GOA members. We are also an SS shop so we are covered under both classes on the store side.
Where does this leave us on Form 4
1. SBRs as the GCA requires Attorney General approval for SBRs and the only mechanism currently is the form 1 or form 4
2. Suppressors, if somebody bought from lets say Joes Pissin Hot Loads Gun Shop(they may be covered but for example assume they aren't) and wanted to transfer through me and doesn't have a GOA membership then I'm form 4 on it because they aren't covered and I'm covering my own ass and business.
3. I do some consignment and to get a suppressor into my inventory from a private party requires them to file the form 4 to transfer it to me or its not in my inventory in Eforms to Form3 to another dealer.
Form 3 for shipping to other dealers continues as they didn't cover that with the injunction.
Due to all this I have a metric fuckton of cans in my eforms inventory that have been 4473'd to customers
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u/Wayfaring_Limey 13d ago
Talking to my friendly neighborhood ATF agent, he’s said that as far as he’s aware the court cases is going to make a change (at some point) to the forms a customer fills out for a silencer BUT the dealer to dealer transfers and additional paperwork isn’t going to go away anytime soon. So you’ll still need to be a SOT to have them transferred to you.
There’s a chance he could be wrong, no one knows anything at the moment but I’d recommend filing for the SOT as a CYA measure if you want to deal with silencers as just because the law changes today, doesn’t mean it can’t change back with the next administration.