Frequently Asked Questions

The terms suppressor and silencer are synonymous. Either term can be used, but we prefer the term suppressor. The term "silencer" is misleading as you can't make a firearm completely silent. Simply put, a suppressor reduces the sound level of a discharged round, but does not completely silence it. Other great benefits of suppressor use on a firearm are: reduced recoil, reduced muzzle blast, eliminating muzzle flash, increased accuracy, and most important, a more enjoyable shooting experience for everyone.

The following states allow private ownership of a suppressor:

AL, AR, AK, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MS, MO, MT, ND, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY

The following states allow private ownership of a short barreled rifle (SBR):

AK, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY

The following states allow private ownership of a short barrel shotgun:

AK, AR, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, ID, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO MS, MT, NE, NC, ND, NH, NM, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY

The following states allow private ownership of a machine gun:

AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL ,GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY

Anyone who is a legal U.S. citizen, 18 years of age and older*, a non-felon, and lives in a state which allows private ownership of a suppressor, short barrel rifle, or machine gun. Typically, if you can buy a handgun, you can buy a suppressor.

*To legally purchase a suppressor from a dealer, you must be at least 21 years of age. Those 18 years of age and older may purchase a suppressor privately from another individual or may possess one as a beneficiary of a trust or member of a corporation.

No, you do not need to have a license to own one. You will need to pay a one-time $200 tax to the ATF for each suppressor, short barrel rifle, or machine gun you purchase. If you are a Texas resident, we charge you the $200 fee at the time of purchase and pay the BATFE on your behalf.

If you are traveling out of state with a suppressor, you can do so freely to other suppressor friendly states. If you are traveling by air, you will need to declare and check the suppressor as a firearm at the check-in counter.

If you are traveling out of state with any other NFA item, you must submit form 5320.20, in duplicate, to:

BATFE
ATTN: NFA Branch
244 Needy Road
Martinsburg, WV 25405

Please keep in mind approvals can take 2-3 months and must occur prior to out of state travel.

Yes, if you do not live in Texas you can buy NFA items from Capitol Armory. We must transfer the NFA item to a FFL/SOT dealer local to you and your local dealer will then transfer the NFA item to you, your trust, or your corporation via a Form 4 (dealer to individual) transfer.

First, decide what you want to purchase and complete your order online or over the phone. If you know a FFL/SOT dealer local to you whom you wish to have the NFA items transferred to, select your preferred local dealer from our list of FFLs or if not listed, elect to have Capitol Armory contact them on your behalf. If you do not have a local dealer in mind, let us know and we can help find you one.

Once your preferred local FFL/SOT dealer has been selected, we will electronically file the Form 3 transfer to your dealer and notify you of such via email. The electronic filing of the Form 3 transfer is typically performed within 24 business hours of dealer selection. Current Form 3 transfer approval times are about 4-5 weeks from the date you are notified of the form 3 submission to your dealer.

Once your NFA item is approved, you are notified via email and a tracking number is provided. Upon receipt of your purchase, your dealer will then begin the Form 4 transfer process; collecting your $200 BATFE registration fee and trust documents (if applicable)

While purchasing from Capitol Armory as a non-Texas resident may add 30-45 days to the overall transfer time frame, our selection and pricing are definitely worth the wait. Also keep in mind we do not collect sales tax for out-of-state customers, which means additional savings for you!

Unlike other dealers, we do not charge a fee for processing your BATFE forms or collecting your BATFE $200 registration fee (NFA items). All fees are shown in your cart before you place your order. The only additional fees if paying by credit card, check, or money order are sales taxes (TX residents only), shipping, and/or the BATFE transfer fee.

• If you are a Texas resident, we must charge Texas sales tax.
• If you are a Texas resident we collect the $200 BATFE transfer fee from you and pay it to the BATFE on your behalf. 
• Shipping: $8.95 flat rate shipping fee applies if we are shipping the suppressor to your local dealer, or if you are a Texas resident and qualify to have the approved suppressor shipped to your home.

Customers electing to utilize our Easy Pay system are charged a small service fee to utilize the installment plan. Easy Pay fees are disclosed on the product page for each item that is eligible for Easy Pay.

If you live in Texas and are buying a suppressor, we can handle the entire process without having to visit our Cedar Park location. To start the process, place your order on our website.

If you are transferring with a trust, simply upload your trust to our secure servers or email the documents  to us at [email protected]. If you do not have access to a scanner, feel free to mail us the required documents. If filing by corporation, provide your corporation's legal name during registration / checkout. When filing by trust or corporation, we do not need any signatures to submit and begin the Form 4 transfer process (suppressors only). 

If we are transferring the suppressor to you as an individual, simply let us know and we will mail you a transfer packet which includes the completed Form 4s requiring your signature, Certificate of Compliance, fingerprint cards, and instructions.

Once your Form 4 transfer is approved by the BATFE, you have the option of picking up the suppressor at our shop in Cedar Park, Texas or having us mail it direct to your primary residence. If you choose to have the suppressor mailed to your residence, we will have you fill out a BATFE Form 4473 and notarize one other document. Both documents are then mailed back to Capitol Armory and after a seven (7) day waiting period, the suppressor can be mailed direct to your residence. Having a suppressor mailed to your residence adds about two weeks to the delivery date of your suppressor due to the seven day waiting period and USPS mail delivery, but it eliminates the need for you to step foot in our shop. Given you've already waited 3-4 months for the BATFE approval, two more weeks is nothing!

All customers purchasing through our site receive detailed instructions on how to complete their purchase both onscreen and via email.

Accessory Orders

Absolutely nothing! Wait for your tracking number via email. All accessory orders are shipped the same day when placed by 3PM CT M-F

NFA Items - TX Residents

Customers filing by trust can upload their trust documents to our secure server or email them. Corporate filers simply provide their corporation's name via registration / checkout. If you'd prefer to file as in individual, just let us know by replying to your order confirmation email.

NFA Items - Non-TX Residents

After your order is complete, select a local FFL/SOT dealer from our online list. If your preferred dealer is not listed, you may elect to have us contact them on your behalf to retrieve their FFL information and complete the transfer to them. Your local dealer will collect your BATFE registration fee and trust documents (if applicable).

Firearms

After your order is complete, select a local FFL/SOT dealer from our online list. If your preferred dealer is not listed, you may elect to have us contact them on your behalf to retrieve their FFL information. Firearms are shipped within 24 business hours of receiving your dealer's FFL information.

 

check your email for a simple set of instructions on what to do next to complete the transfer process to yourself, Trust, Corporation, or out of state dealer. If you do not have an email within 1-2 hours of your purchase, check your junk or spam folder.

We offer something very similar to layaway with a program called Easy Pay. Easy Pay is available for most products we sell, including suppressors, firearms, and class 3/NFA items. Learn more about Easy Pay.

The BATFE notifies Capitol Armory when your transfer is approved. We then notify you via email.

If you are a Texas resident, you're approved suppressor can be shipped directly to your residence, but there are a few extra steps involved. We will have you fill out a BATFE Form 4473 and notarize one other document. Both documents are mailed back to Capitol Armory and after a seven (7) day waiting period, the suppressor can be mailed direct to your residence. Having a suppressor mailed to your residence adds about two weeks to the delivery date of your suppressor due to the seven day waiting period and USPS mail delivery, but it eliminates the need for you to travel to our location in Cedar Park, Texas.

It is a request to transfer ownership of an NFA item from one dealer to another dealer. If you are a non-Texas resident, your purchase will be transferred to a local dealer of your choice on a Form 3. Transfer times for Form 3 transfers (dealer to dealer) are much shorter than dealer to non-dealer transfers and do not incur a $200 transfer tax.

In August 2013, the BATFE launched the eForms system for the processing of Form 3 and Form 4 transfers when the transferee is a trust or corporation. Transfers to individuals must continue to use the traditional paper system. The move to an electronic system has simplified the process for the transferee/purchaser and has decreased the amount of time it takes for an approval. Capitol Armory utilizes the eForm system for all Form 3 transfers and all Form 4 transfers when our customer utilizes a trust or corporation for transfer.

Use of the eForms system has dramatically cut down the amount of time it takes to approve a transfer and eliminates the need for customers to sign paperwork upfront when the NFA item is a suppressor.

A FFL is a federal firearms licensee, put simply a firearms dealer.

A SOT is a FFL who can deal, import or manufacture NFA weapons. Only FFLs who have paid to become a SOT may deal in NFA / Class 3 weapons.

NFA stands for the National Firearms Act. The National Firearms Act requires NFA firearms to be registered and taxed. Weapons which fall under the NFA are: machine guns, short barreled rifles (SBRs), short barreled shotguns (SBSs), Suppressors, Destructive Devices (DDs), and Any Other Weapons (AOWs).

Weapons which fall under the NFA are also referred to as Class 3 weapons and Title II weapons.