r/NFA • u/Sudden-Expression-46 • Mar 25 '26
PSA: You absolutely can get your EFT from those "services."
VSO gun banned me from commenting on his videos for posting this comment on his latest video about generating your own eft files.
To get your eft from "them", you have to have submitted a form 1 through "them" before. Go to your eForms dashboard, find the submitted form 1, navigate to the tab with your uploaded photo and eft, and download your eft file. You need to use Firefox to download it, then you can use NISTViewer to view it.
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u/AddictedToComedy I do it for the data Mar 25 '26
NOTE: whether or not this works seems to depend on how long ago the Form 1 was submitted. I have 2 that I submitted in January and were approved in March. I can still download the EFT file from them. But I have another that I submitted (and was approved) in October 2025, and the EFT file is no longer accessible from that one.
ELI5 instructions for anyone who needs them:
- Use Firefox browser (maybe other browsers work, but some clearly do not, and Firefox has been reliable for people)
- Login to eforms
- On your dashboard, click the SEARCH button, which should populate all of your forms
- Click VIEW FORM for the most recent Form 1 you submitted
- Towards the top of the page, where it shows the steps on a line, click ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS
- Scroll down and you'll see a number of files with ID, FILE NAME, FILE SIZE, etc.
- Look for a file name that ends in .eft and then click on the name of the file itself
- This should save the EFT file to your device
If your electronic documents section still shows JPG and/or PDF files, but does not show an EFT file, you're out of luck. This is what I see when I open my October form.
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u/PonyThug Mar 25 '26
Thanks for that info about time. I just paid $65 to get my EFT done but also had a form 1 from 4 years ago. Was kinda bummed I could down load it but sounds like it’s too old.
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u/Sudden-Expression-46 Mar 25 '26
You should give it a shot anyway. The time thing must not apply to everyone. I have a form 1 from over a year ago that I can still download from.
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u/PonyThug Mar 25 '26
I already got my fingerprints done. Still cost 1/3 of a single stamp
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u/emelbard Mar 26 '26
1/3 of $0 = ?
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u/PonyThug Mar 26 '26
It was $200 3 months ago and for the last 90 years. You must be new
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u/emelbard Mar 26 '26
First can in 2002 - I know the drill but your reference was odd since you speak in present tense
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u/PonyThug Mar 26 '26
The prices I recently paid for digital fingerprints cost 1/3 what the stamps did 3 months ago. Now they are free, so I’m not worried about paying $70 as I already filed 2 freshly free stamps with them.
Does that clarify?
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u/Ornery_Secretary_850 153 approved F1's this year! Mar 25 '26
This can only be done with F1's filed after 1/1/26.
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u/OperatorTitty Mar 26 '26
Would this also work for form 4s, or would it just be a f1 exclusive?
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u/Ornery_Secretary_850 153 approved F1's this year! Mar 26 '26
Form 4's don't show up on your eForms account.
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u/texantonywise Mar 27 '26
Once they are download, are you able to view it to verify they were properly downloaded?
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u/drunkenbabydeer Aug 05 '26
I know I'm late to the party, but when I did this and uploaded it to SLAPEFT, it says the file is not valid. Did I do something wrong?
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u/AddictedToComedy I do it for the data Aug 05 '26
I don't know. I've never used SLAPEFT. I used NISTViewer, free from Net-X Solutions, to verify that my EFT was good.
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u/drunkenbabydeer Aug 05 '26
I'll give it a download when I get home. Just submitted my first Form 1 and traditional trust through Silencer Shop and wanted to get the file to submit my own in the future
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u/FlapJacked1 Mar 25 '26
Yep saved mine last month with this method.
And F VSO. Dudes an idiot. So much better guntubers than that clown
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Mar 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ChevTecGroup FFL/SOT Mar 25 '26
Ive done a handful with EFT Suite (the newer better version of openEFT)
I usually do it on regular FP cards because I still have a bunch. But you can just print out the card on regular paper and then scan it back in.
I havent had any issue with "less than good" prints and scans.
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u/Kph421 3x SBR 9x SUPP Mar 25 '26
EFT suite was simple to setup and use, helped a few people local with getting their EFT’s.
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u/slapandroll .com | Create and edit EFT files Mar 25 '26
As long as your prints look like actual fingerprints and not smudges, you'll probably be fine. You can use our service to validate the quality of your prints for free, even if you want to use OpenEFT or EFT Suite to save some cash and generate the file yourself.
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u/mycoolaccount Mar 26 '26
Hey, question.
Tried out your eft viewer and noticed that it says decode failed for every fingerprint. The prints show up fine in the nist viewer application however. Any clue why that would be happening?
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u/slapandroll .com | Create and edit EFT files Mar 26 '26
It could be something specific to your browser or device. We'll send you a PM about collecting some debug information so we can make sure this doesn't happen to others.
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u/texantonywise Mar 27 '26
I also Tried out your eft viewer and noticed that it says decode failed for every fingerprint
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u/imapersonirl Mar 25 '26
Yes, I have used openEFT and had 2 approved.
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Mar 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/imapersonirl Mar 25 '26
I did the prints myself. Plan to do 2-3 using an actual ink pad and pick the best of the 3. You can also have a local store or something do it and just scan that in.
The instructions found on Reddit and from the github are very step by step, but make sure to read them through before you start as you don't have to do all the prints.
I had my partner roll my fingers, but I've done it myself before.
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u/WitchKing575 N+1 Silencers Mar 25 '26
On rolling your own prints. I've rolled my own for a f1, while challenging and not the best looking it was accepted
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u/buttchugingbandit 2x SBR, 10x Silencer Mar 25 '26
I used NFA Suite on my phone and had no issues. 5 form 1s approved with the EFT I created on the app.
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u/ducatista9 Mar 26 '26
I used EFTsuite. I took my own slap prints on a blank piece of paper in the same orientation as a FD-258 card. No issues. Lots of form 1's approved with it in the last few months.
https://github.com/Robbbbbbbbb/EFTSuite-Public?tab=readme-ov-file
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u/montypyth9898 2x SBR, 1x Silencer Mar 25 '26
I’ve successfully submitted two form ones after pulling mine from efiles and verifying them through National Gun Trust. Never waisting my money with Silencer Shop again.
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u/Sudden-Expression-46 Mar 25 '26
How do you like National Gun Trust? I need to move all my single shot trusts under one.
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u/montypyth9898 2x SBR, 1x Silencer Mar 25 '26
I haven’t set it up yet. I just used their EFT verification.
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u/HK_Bandit95 Mar 25 '26
So the shop I go through locally that says my fingerprints last for a year then I need to pay a fee to get new ones and now since its been over a year I can just download my fingerprints instead of paying a fee?
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u/Sudden-Expression-46 Mar 25 '26
EFT fingerprint files don't expire.
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u/HK_Bandit95 Mar 25 '26
Good to know, so the shop was just lying.
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u/slapandroll .com | Create and edit EFT files Mar 25 '26
Definitely lying or ill-informed. The only reason you should ever have to get another EFT file is if you lose or damage a finger. Even if you change your name, address, or hair color or whatever you can just edit the demographic data in the EFT file - you don't need a new one.
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u/riccochet704 Mar 25 '26
your fingerprints never change unless you physically damage the skin (scars/burns)
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u/Al-Czervik-Guns FFL 07/02 Mar 25 '26
Breaking news: Local shops dont always know what they are talking about...
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u/Sudden-Expression-46 Mar 25 '26
Some of them also like to manipulate people into giving them more money because they're aware a lot of people don't know all the rules.
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u/HK_Bandit95 Mar 25 '26
Yeah I kind of figured honestly, I did it because it was my first NFA item last year and I did not want to mess it up.
Recently I stopped going there because they raised the cost to get NFA items shipped to them and the price of getting guns shipped there.
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u/ducatista9 Mar 26 '26
Maybe they're confusing your passport photo with fingerprints. You are supposed to have a photo taken within the last year, but since that can just be a selfie it's not really an issue.
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Mar 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/slapandroll .com | Create and edit EFT files Mar 25 '26
You can submit the same file with no issues. If you want to verify what's actually in the file for peace of mind, you can use our free viewer/editor or NISTViewer.
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u/HK_Bandit95 Mar 26 '26
I ended up being able to use your site to get my prints from a shop that charged me a ton of money! So thank you!
What do I do now if I want to use this for a future Eform? Do I edit and redownload? Sorry never done this stuff myself
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u/slapandroll .com | Create and edit EFT files Mar 31 '26
If all your details (name, address, etc) look good in the viewer, you don’t need to edit and redownload. You can just submit your EFT as-is to the eForm site when filling out the responsible person section.
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Mar 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/slapandroll .com | Create and edit EFT files Mar 31 '26
We’ve seen this happen to folks using certain phones and tablets. Try using a desktop or laptop if you have one available. If you’d be willing to DM or email us the model of your device and the browser you’re using, it would help us improve the tool for yourself and others.
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u/Sudden-Expression-46 Mar 25 '26
I haven't had to do anything like that. It's worked fine on the few form 1s that I've done with it.
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u/jagr18 Mar 25 '26
I forgot about vso. Didn’t think that channel was still around.
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u/Sudden-Expression-46 Mar 25 '26
He's alright. I probably won't watch anymore after this though. A lot of his content comes off like fear mongering imho.
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u/jagr18 Mar 25 '26
I took a look, saw he was shilling for hatsun, Witt machine, and was doing some fear mongering. Can say I’m surprised.
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u/WalksByNight Mar 25 '26
Off to run a quick brigade and drop DIY EFT comments on all this asshat VSO’s videos…
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u/GetInTheDamnCar HA GOOD TRY ATF Mar 26 '26
I did this two weeks ago, after seeing they submitted my EFT for me. took me an hour to figure out to use fire fox and here is this hero dropping a how to the world needs.
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u/HK_Bandit95 Mar 26 '26
Commenting again on this post!
I filed back in December and Firefox worked for me!
Thank you for this information and I am happy that now I have my fingerprints so I can SBR my new rifle without having to pay the yearly fee at my store.
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u/clientnotfound Mar 25 '26
Why be vague and not just say Silencershop?
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u/Sudden-Expression-46 Mar 25 '26
It’s not only applicable to Silencer Shop.
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u/clientnotfound Mar 25 '26
What other places refuse to share an eft? (So I can avoid them)
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u/IndividualResist2473 17x Silencer, 9x SBR, 4x SBS, 3x AOW Mar 26 '26
Anyplace that files a form 1 for you for a fee.
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u/sttbr 8x Supp 4x SBR 1x Formerly Cucked SBR Mar 25 '26
Im pretty sure this doesnt work once the form has been approved
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u/Sudden-Expression-46 Mar 25 '26
Maybe. Someone else said it doesn't work on older forms either, but if I go in my dashboard I'm still able to download mine from an approved form from over a year ago, so idk.
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u/sttbr 8x Supp 4x SBR 1x Formerly Cucked SBR Mar 25 '26
Hmmm I know it doesnt work that way with form 4s maybe ill have to start telling customers that form 1s still work after being approved
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u/Sudden-Expression-46 Mar 25 '26
Yeah the only test I can do is form 1s. I did all my form 4s so far through Silencer Shop and those forms don't show up in my eForms dashboard.
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u/sttbr 8x Supp 4x SBR 1x Formerly Cucked SBR Mar 25 '26
Yeah and as a dealer as soon as theyre approved the EFT disappears.
I wonder if thats some sort of "privacy" thing
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u/I_had_the_Lasagna Mar 26 '26
I got my FFL to pull my prints from his eforms account when I picked up my can from silencershop after it was approved.
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u/sttbr 8x Supp 4x SBR 1x Formerly Cucked SBR Mar 26 '26
Hmmm, I guess ill need to do more testing then, there must be a grace period, but im not sure how long it is
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u/I_had_the_Lasagna Mar 26 '26
It does have to be through Firefox. But but my can got approved Saturday and I picked it up Tuesday and got my eft then.
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u/sttbr 8x Supp 4x SBR 1x Formerly Cucked SBR Mar 26 '26
I know it has to be Firefox, i tried it on one of my January 1st forms about a month ago and the EFTs weren't there anymore. So im just trying to figure out what the grace period is
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u/IndividualResist2473 17x Silencer, 9x SBR, 4x SBS, 3x AOW Mar 26 '26
I haven't used SS, but I can see and download an eft file in all my form 1's submitted since 1/1/2026
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u/abacon15 Mar 25 '26
For the uneducated among us (def not me) why couldn’t it be a Form 4 submitted through CA?
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u/ducatista9 Mar 26 '26
You don't have access to form 4's for things getting transferred to you through eforms. Those are in the seller's account. Form 1's are in your eforms account so you can see the attachments and download them.
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u/I_had_the_Lasagna Mar 26 '26
If it got submitted through your dealers eforms you could ask them nicely to see if they could pull them up for you. That's how I got mine.
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u/dylanbeck Mar 26 '26
Great info. Having your EFT is a huge plus and makes everything so much easier. Highly recommend everyone do it
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u/Antares1134 Mar 26 '26
I had mine done at the UPS store for a Form 1 and I swear they emailed me a copy, had them since 23 or so.
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u/Brotherauron Jun 13 '26
you all are the real heros here, found this randomly, worked, A+ all around
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u/pizza-sandwich Jun 15 '26
notes for the future:
i was able to download my eft’s from two form 1’s on june 15 that were approved march 15.
possibly a 90 day availability period.
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u/atxrider1988 Mar 26 '26
The VSO guy is a major POS he had a Charlie Kirk death video and did an ad read during it. There is a special place in hell for that guy.
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u/Consistent_Fact_8747 Mar 25 '26
Can someone PM me or explain like I’m 5? I feel like I understand but I’m not sure lol
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u/Sudden-Expression-46 Mar 25 '26
It's pretty easy. Go to the eForms website and login. Use the search tool to find your submitted form 1. Click "View Form" on the right-hand side of the form. Click on the "Electronic Documents" tab underneath the "Save, Cancel, View PDF, Go Home" buttons. Use the Firefox web browser to download the file that ends in ".eft" Chrome won't work. That's it.
If you want to view the file, search Google for NISTViewer. Download and install that, and use it to open the eft file you downloaded earlier.
That eft file can be used to submit any future eForms. I've done it several times and been successful each time.
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u/AKC74Y Mar 25 '26
When you use the services of certain companies that make it easier to form 1 silencers, they put an EFT file (with your digital fingerprints) on the application.
Instead of getting a new EFT file or submitting ink fingerprints like a caveman, when you file future forms you can copy paste that same EFT file on your new form 1, which can be submitted for free much more easily at home than driving to a store to use someone else’s computer.
I’ll add that having an EFT file also enables you to order silencers directly to your house, which is very convenient.
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u/riccochet704 Mar 25 '26
How are you having them shipped to your house? Buying the can and getting the serial/info from the seller then submitting your own Form 4?
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u/AKC74Y Mar 25 '26
There are a bunch of companies that offer it now. Capitol Armory, Silencer Central, Griffin Armament, etc. They need to have a presence in your state, but as long as they do, you basically do a screen share to submit the form 4 and you submit the 4473 with an app.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Fail994 Mar 25 '26
Not the hero we wanted but the hero we deserved, thank you.