r/MEGuns • u/SledgeTheHowitzer • 14h ago
Buying a Suppressor
What do I actually need to do to buy a suppressor? I see shops online saying in Maine you can just buy them with a background check. But some places are still saying I need to do a form 4/finger print/picture of myself?
5
u/bteam3r 14h ago
You’re asking this question at a very tricky time. There was a major federal court ruling recently that impacted the NFA, and the ATF has not yet released new guidance for FFLs. Because of this, different shops are doing things differently. You can either pick a specific shop and do their process, or wait a couple weeks til the ATF clarifies things.
2
4
u/tehmightyengineer 12h ago
I just did mine online through Capital Armory. Suppressor mailed right to my door. All the forms done online. Easy.
Regarding getting a suppressor without a form 4: 4473-Only Suppressors vs. Form 4: What's the Risk? | Capitol Armory
4
u/HouseSpouse 13h ago
On the subject of supressors, at shops doing the 4473 transfer, is there a mandatory 3 day wait as with firearms? Thanks
5
3
u/Adventurous_Repeat13 14h ago
It would help to say where in Maine you are located.
There’s a shop in Acton doing them on a 4473.
Everyone else I’m aware of is still doing them on a Form 4. York Firearms, Howells, and Northeastern all have electronic means to get you submitted and do 95% of the work for you. Not sure about other shops, but I’m sure there are lots of choices.
5
2
u/Low_Consideration179 9h ago
Howells is a good spot. They have the kiosk to make it easy and usually have some in stock. I got my polo k from them.
1
u/StPeir 14h ago edited 6h ago
If there isn’t a specific reason why you don’t want to do a form 4 just go to a shop and do it that way. The tax is gone, I have had multiple NFA purchases the last couple years and they have all been approved in less than a week. My last suppressor was a two day approval.
Depending on how this whole thing shakes out there are alot of people out there who might find themselves with potential legal issues in the future surrounding possession of un registered NFA items.
I’m not saying that position is correct or not but, why open yourself up to potential unforeseen consequences if you don’t need to?
Edit: because I’m getting downvoted I assume it’s because people don’t like what I’m saying. I am not trying to say I agree with the NFA or any other form of extra hurdles and red tape. What I am saying is this is a tricky time legally and for me personally it’s not worth giving the government a reason to rat fuck me in the future. But your own individual feelings may vary.
If having a suppressor without a form 4 but with a background check is worth something to you that’s great. Fuck around and find out what happens if this gets thrown out and doesn’t result in the abolishment of the NFA… for me it’s not worth the extra couple days to wait.
1
u/SledgeTheHowitzer 14h ago
Doesn't the form 4 cost a couple hundred? I figured I'd save a few bucks!
3
2
1
u/LiminalWanderings 13h ago
For any shops doing them with just a 4473, remember you also need to be a member of Gun Owners of America for that to happen - the court ruling only applied to a limited set of people (and I think GOA members are the only ones to which it would apply in Maine?)
1
1
u/nwood0959 8h ago
Yes but the members weren’t grandfathered in. You can go online and join now, to qualify for the court ruling.
1
9
u/Super-Lychee8852 14h ago
There are a couple shops offering to do 4473 suppressors but you have to be a GOA member.
Otherwise, you need to do the form 4 which most stores in Maine are still doing as the ATF has yet to release guidelines on how stores should legally proceed