Guides
Buyer guides
Plain-English guides for buying a suppressor and reloading components. Legal and regulatory claims link to dated sources, and we say so when we could not verify something.
- Federal + state lawHow buying a suppressor works (2026)The $0 tax, the Oct 2026 ATF non-enforcement policy, voluntary eForm 4 steps, and what did not change.
- Wait timeseForm 4 wait times, November 2026ATF's latest published averages and Silencer Shop's 30-day medians, side by side, with dates.
- Buyer guideChoosing a suppressor: caliber, mount and hostBore size, multi-caliber trade-offs, direct thread vs quick-detach, pistols and gas guns.
- ReferenceSuppressor adapter and mount typesDirect thread, HUB, piston, 3-lug, and the named QD ecosystems, with sources.
- ReloadingBuying reloading components: price per unit, hazmat and storageHow to compare powder, primers, bullets and brass, what hazmat fees do to the real price, and safe powder storage.
Looking for a specific state? Go to the state law table.