ATF reports surge in suppressor sales as processing times shrink
The ATF says more than 500,000 suppressors were sold in the past three months and processing for Form 4 applications has fallen to nine days.
ATF figures show that more than 500,000 suppressors were purchased in the last three months, bringing the count of registered units to 6.65 million as of August 4. The agency’s website notes that Form 4 processing time has dropped to nine days, while the average turnaround for the four most common ATF forms is now 18 days since fiscal 2021. Filing activity has climbed from under 485,700 in fiscal 2021 to over 1.84 million through three-quarters of the current fiscal year, with 1,045,503 Form 4s processed so far this year.
Advocates cite the 2025 reconciliation bill, which removed the $200 suppressor tax, as a key driver of demand. Recent court actions have allowed at least two suppressor transfers to occur without the traditional Form 4 process.
Why it matters
Faster approvals and tax cuts are making suppressors more accessible, reshaping the firearms market and regulatory landscape.
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