Short answer: yes. On October 9, 2026, ATF published an Open Letter and FAQ saying it no longer requires a Form 4, tax stamp, fingerprints, photos or registration for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns or AOWs. A licensed dealer now transfers them on a standard Form 4473 with a NICS background check, the same as any other gun. It applies nationwide, to everyone.
- What you need now: a standard ATF Form 4473 and a NICS background check at a licensed dealer, and nothing else.
- What you no longer need: Form 4 or Form 1 approval, a tax stamp, fingerprints, photos or NFA registration.
- Items covered: suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and AOWs. Machine guns and destructive devices are unchanged.
- Wait time: none. The Form 4 approval wait is gone.
- Still applies: state law, dealer SOT licensing, and an approved ATF Form 5320.20 to take an SBR across state lines.
- Buying from us: order online at Western Sport suppressors; we ship to an SOT dealer in your state, or you can pick up in Texas.
Picking one: best .22LR suppressors · best 9mm suppressors · best .308 suppressors · best suppressor for an MK18 · best suppressor for a Glock 43X.
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Dead Air Armament Nomad Ti XC, Suppressor, Direct Thread Mount, 6.74″ Length, 1.76″ Diameter, Silver
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BANISH MeatEater, Suppressor, 5.85″ Length, 1.73″ Diameter, Cerakote Finish, Sniper Gray
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Dead Air Armament CT5P Patrol, Suppressor, 5.56 NATO/6MM ARC, 6.55″ Length, 1.6″ Diameter, Cerakote Finish, Xeno Black
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What changed on October 9
Two earlier events set this up. On January 1, 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act cut the federal making and transfer tax on suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs from $200 to $0. On August 5, 2026, a federal court in the Northern District of Texas (Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF) held that with no tax left to collect, the NFA’s registration and approval rules for those items could no longer be enforced, but its order only covered the plaintiffs and their members and customers.
The Department of Justice then decided not to appeal, and the Attorney General chose to apply the result to everyone, not just the plaintiffs. ATF’s October 9 guidance puts that into effect. For suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs, ATF no longer enforces:
- the requirement to apply for and receive approval before making or transferring one (Form 1, Form 4)
- registration in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record
- the tax stamp
- the ban on transporting an unregistered NFA item across state lines
What did not change
- Machine guns and destructive devices. They keep the $200 tax and the full NFA process.
- The Gun Control Act. These are still firearms under federal law. Dealers complete a Form 4473, run NICS and keep records, and prohibited persons still cannot own one.
- Dealer licensing. Businesses that sell NFA items still need a Special Occupational Tax (SOT) license. Western Sport holds one.
- SBRs and SBSs across state lines. Moving one interstate still needs an approved ATF Form 5320.20, registered or not.
- State law. ATF’s guidance does not override it. Some states ban suppressors or SBRs, and some only allow ones registered with ATF. A dealer cannot transfer an item your state does not allow.
What this means if you live in Texas
Texas removed suppressors from its prohibited-weapons list in 2021 and short-barreled firearms on September 1, 2025. So for a Texas resident, buying a suppressor or SBR is now a Form 4473, a background check and nothing else. No prints, no photos, no months of waiting.
How to buy a suppressor without a Form 4 from Western Sport
- Pick your suppressor online.
- Texas buyers pick it up from us or use an SOT dealer nearby. Outside Texas, we ship it to an SOT dealer in your state.
- Fill out a Form 4473 with a valid photo ID and pass the NICS check.
- Take it home when the check clears.
There are no NFA paperwork fees from us on a Form 4473. If you want your item registered anyway, ATF still accepts Form 4s voluntarily, and we will file one for you (ask us for the current fee). The full step-by-step is on how buying a suppressor works at Western Sport.
Frequently asked questions
Is this only for the people in the lawsuit?
No. The court’s order covered only the plaintiffs, but ATF’s October 9 guidance applies to everyone.
Do I still need fingerprints, photos or a gun trust?
No. Those were part of the Form 4 process. A trust is not needed to buy, though existing trusts still work.
Is the $200 tax gone on machine guns too?
No. Machine guns and destructive devices still carry the $200 tax and the full NFA process.
Can I build my own SBR now?
Federally, ATF no longer requires an approved Form 1 to make an SBR, SBS or suppressor. Your state’s law still applies, and an SBR or SBS still needs an approved Form 5320.20 to cross state lines. Unlicensed people still may not make them as a business.
I have a Form 4 pending with Western Sport. What now?
Your item does not need to wait for ATF. Send us a message and we will set up the 4473.
Shop the gear: Dead Air Nomad Ti XC · Banish MeatEater · Dead Air CT5P · all suppressors · buy any gun, get a free suppressor ·NFA Made Simple
Written by Western Sport, a licensed FFL/SOT dealer. General information about federal rules as of October 9, 2026, not legal advice. State and local laws vary.
Lance Rankin is the owner and Chief Gunsmith of Western Sport, a family-run Type 07 FFL and Class 3/SOT dealer in Roanoke, Texas, serving shooters since 2007. Born and raised in Texas with over 50 years of experience handling firearms, Lance purchased Western Sport in 2017 and turned his lifelong passion into his profession. He specializes in AR-15 and AR-10 platform rifles, manufactures Western Sport’s own Rankin Industries parts and rifles, and runs the shop’s in-house Cerakote coating operation. When he’s not behind the counter or the workbench, you’ll find him on his ranch deep into the night, hunting coyotes with an AR-15 and thermal optics. Lance holds an MBA and personally shoots and tests the products Western Sport sells.
