Now that you know how to choose a suppressor, where do you buy it from?

Option 1:

Hopefully, you’ve got a great gun shop somewhere near you that carries lots of brands of suppressors and that keeps tons of them in stock. If you do, you can go shopping for a suppressor and see if they carry a brand or model that fits your needs. Ideally, you can see it, touch it, and smell it before you decide. Read How To Choose a Suppressor. Sometimes they can order one for you but keep in mind that it can take a long time for the transfers between dealers. Some popular models and brands of suppressors are back-ordered for a year. The point is, that you should discuss with the dealer the time frame before you order. If the local dealer happens to have the brand and model that you want, you pay them for the full suppressor upfront. Then you start your paperwork, get a trust set up, do fingerprints, and submit the forms.

It’s important that you do your homework and already have your list of features that are important to you before you go shopping. Much like buying optics, the dealer will try to talk you into buying what he has in stock or what he will make the most profit from rather than selling you what would fit your needs the best. Don’t waiver on the features that are important to you. I have a buddy that discussed what he should buy with me for hours and also looked at and shot my suppressors. He wanted one solely for the purposes of hunting. We discussed how weight and length were more important for his style of hunting than almost any other feature. The dealer completely talked him out of that and sold him a suppressor that, in my opinion, is too long and too heavy to carry hunting. The dealer did this because he didn’t have anything in stock that was appropriate and didn’t want to lose the sale. My buddy has been waiting 9 months to try it out and probably realize that he bought the wrong suppressor. Don’t make this mistake.

Option 2:

Suppressors are treated much like firearms when you buy them online. You find one online that is in stock, pay for it, and they ship it to an in-your-state local FFL/SOT of your choosing. Be careful as online dealers are notorious for listing it as if they have it in stock, taking your money, and then ordering it from a distributor or manufacturer. They then blame the ATF for the delays. Generally, you can start your paperwork when the SOT receives the suppressor from the dealer you bought it from online. You then do your Form 4 or eForm 4 and pay the $200 tax to the ATF. The local dealer holds it for you while you wait for your stamp to be approved. Generally, they charge you a transfer fee since they’re not making the sale and because they have to help with the paperwork and hold the suppressor while you wait for the approval.

Remember that buying online might not be cheaper after you pay the transfer fee. This period of time waiting after you’ve paid the dealer and the ATF is referred to by many people as “suppressor jail”. Months later when you’re approved, you go into the dealer and fill out an ATF Form 4473, do a background check or show a concealed weapons permit, and then you’re permitted to take your new suppressor home.

Suppressors Delivered to Your Door
One call, does it all. Select your suppressor, create your trust, fit your gun, deliver to your doorstep. Silencer Central – Simple, Smart, Easy! Call 866-693-3982 or visit https://www.silencercentral.com/about-us/

Option 3

Silencer Central is kind of a hybrid between a local dealer and an online dealer. They’re the best of both worlds.

They have knowledgeable salespeople that can help you buy any brand of suppressor that they are a dealer for, as well as their own line of Banish suppressors. They have a variety of suppressors in stock that they can sell to you when you call in. Because they have their own FFL licensed location in each of the 42 silencer legal states, you don’t have to pay a transfer fee. If money is tight, they allow a 25% down payment and they finance you the rest over a three-month period of time. Purchasing a suppressor through Silencer Central also gets you an NFA Gun Trust at no additional cost, and they help you do all the paperwork or eForms. Finally, when your application is approved by the ATF, they can ship the suppressor to your door because they have a variance approval from the ATF.

If you can go to a show that Silencer Central is attending like the NRA Show, SCI, or dozens of others, you’ll get hands-on experience with each suppressor. Additionally, if you purchase at the show, they can complete the entire purchase including, fingerprints, passport photos, gun trust, and get the personal information needed for the Form 4. After the show, all you have to do is digitally sign and schedule a certification meeting with one of their specialists to submit the application.

Silencer Central is a big player and they advertise that they can get just about any brand or model of suppressor out there. If they don’t have it in stock, you will likely have to wait until they obtain it before you can start the paperwork.

Summary

Option 1: Local Dealer
Pros
• Get to see, touch, & feel.
• Local
Cons
• Limited to the brands they’re a dealer for and stock in inventory
• Limited knowledge
• Have to come back and do a 4473

Option 2: Online
Pros
• More options
Cons
• Transfer fees
• Extra time waiting
• Might not be honest about what’s in stock.
• Still have to deal with local shop.
• Have to come back and do a 4473

Option 3: Silencer Central
Pros
• Lots of inventory
• Knowledgeable, it’s all they do.
• Best at getting paperwork done
• Suppressor ships to your door
• Free NFA Gun Trust
• Financing Available with 25% down
Cons
• Unless you attend a show, you might not get to see and feel before you purchase.

Regardless of where you decide to purchase, do your homework before you start shopping so that you get the best bang for your wait and hard-earned dollar.

Interested in getting a suppressor?  Check out GunsAmerica’s Suppressor Academy.