Approval without a suppressor?

[In_Him]

This may be a silly question, but here we go. I'm going to a Can day event to try out some suppressors on different hosts. I have a few I"m leaning towards but open to being surprised by something else since there is so much to choose from. My question is this, do I have to wait until I actually purchase a can before starting the process, or can it be done preemptively to cut down on time? I'm not sure if the paperwork includes the serial number or something like that. TYIA.

 

[WeiserBucks]

It's a serialized item. You can't fill out a form 4 without a serial number.

 

[In_Him]

It's a serialized item. You can't fill out a form 4 without a serial number.

That's what I figured, but you don't know until you ask.

 

[BK6x47L]

Also, the wait times are extremely short (about 1-2 days up to 2 weeks on average). Bought a can (delivered on Friday) completed fingerprints and forms online. On Monday, received confirmation of review from SilencerShop and at 615pm had my FFL certify the forms via ATF E-forms account. Nothing on Tuesday, and got my approval email 0815 am Wednesday morning.

This was a SilencerShop One Shot Trust. Individual Eforms are about the same or shorter.

 

[kfreeze]

This may be a silly question, but here we go. I'm going to a Can day event to try out some suppressors on different hosts. I have a few I"m leaning towards but open to being surprised by something else since there is so much to choose from. My question is this, do I have to wait until I actually purchase a can before starting the process, or can it be done preemptively to cut down on time? I'm not sure if the paperwork includes the serial number or something like that. TYIA.

The only way that you can do that is with the form 1 if you want to build one yourself, because you have to wait for the paperwork to come back before you build it.

 

[Nimrodmar10]

You can find a gun shop that has the SilencerShop kiosk and go ahead and create your account. You enter your information and fingerprints on the kiosk and upload a photo from your phone. This is everything you need to have a suppressor sent to your gunshop after you pay for it, and the $200 "stamp" online. You then create an account with the ATF online. They will give you an account name and PIN code. You will give these to your dealer when your suppressor is ready for pickup. It's easier than it sounds. Takes 30 minutes or so for everything except the ATF background check and approval. My last one, last week, took less than 24 hours.

 

[Okanogan]

The information above from @Nimrodmar10 will definitely save you some time. You don't have to rely on Silencershop and their kiosk though. You can go ahead and get your fingerprint card done from your LEO and set up your ATF eForms account. There is more than one SOT dealer who has a buy from home system set up. The system generally has you mail them the fingerprint card and upload your photo as well as set up your account with them online. There are apps that let you get a passport photo from your phone. Once you get everything set up and make a purchase, the seller will work with you to get the Form 4 submitted through ATF eForms. I have switched from Silencer Shop to Capitol Armory because of price and availability but there are other choices.

The downside of buying online and doing the whole process remotely is that you have to clear the non-over the counter Form 4473 process after the ATF Form 4 approval. This last step has taken me 1-2 weeks after the Form 4 approval, which is way longer than my current individual Form 4s have been taking.

Regardless of who you go through to buy from and process electronically it gets easy if you use the same company in the future as they typically have your fingerprint and other info stored. My total effort from purchase to receipt for my most recent can was about 10-15 minutes total.

 

[Mike Matteson]

What happen to the 18 month or longer to get approved? Danm. Looks like people got to writting their Congressman and Senators. Pressure can be applied to speed the ATF up and get them off their dead and dieing (as*).

 

[cm1021]

What happen to the 18 month or longer to get approved? Danm. Looks like people got to writting their Congressman and Senators. Pressure can be applied to speed the ATF up and get them off their dead and dieing (as*).

Eforms helped, but someone lit a fire under the examiners. Rumors were that they were sitting on forms and just taking their time. No way to actually prove that though.

I just put two more form 4s in today. My last one in july of 24 was a 24hr approval.

 

[Mike Matteson]

Eforms helped, but someone lit a fire under the examiners. Rumors were that they were sitting on forms and just taking their time. No way to actually prove that though.

I just put two more form 4s in today. My last one in july of 24 was a 24hr approval.

UNBELIEVEABLE!!! I know that I was trying to get people to write in and complain.

 

[Jeremy Henderson]

My last one took 8 weeks

 

[hydehunter]

a buddy has been waiting since Jan 7 2025

 

[FireFlyFishing]

My last can I bought about a week ago, was approved overnight.

 

[cajun]

Mine was 4 days. Took about a week total because SS screwed up the initial paper work and left Jr off my name. Waiting on an adapter to shoot my 9 carbine it has 1/2x36 threads and waiting on my rifle to be finished so havent even got to shoot it yet. Hopefully this week.