SILENCER SATURDAY #320: Fast Approvals – Five Suppressors You Could Be Shooting Next Weekend
Good evening everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the brand new YHM 338 Bad Larry Suppressor. Last week we used a bit of liquid to make some small cans quieter. Today, because we are starting to see very fast approvals of eForm applications, here are five suppressors you could be shooting by next week. You heard correctly, next weekend. Stay with me and I’ll explain.
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SILENCER SATURDAY #320: Fast Approvals – Five Suppressors You Could Be Shooting Next Weekend
Two weeks ago I wrote about some speedy NFA approval times where owners were taking home suppressors in less than two weeks after submitting their forms. As of yesterday, the wait times were still falling, with approval times for some submissions coming back in 24-48 hours. That’s right, one or two days.
Yesterday I attended a virtual town hall for Federal Firearms Licensee eForms users where members of the ATF explained the improved wait times and some of the issues and bottlenecks that could cause applications to be delayed. The event was to be hosted by ATF Deputy Assistant Director James Vann and Acting NFA Division Chief Ben Hiller, but I joined a little late and missed the introductions.
For some background, when an individual purchases a firearm from an FFL, a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check is submitted based on the information provided on the ATF Form 4473 – Firearms Transaction Record. As an aside, some states don’t use NICS, or only partially use NICS, and use a state supported system instead.
Depending on the volume of checks at the time, most NICS approvals come back within a few minutes, allowing the individual to receive their firearm immediately. If a NICS check comes back as ‘Denied’, the individual is either a prohibited person, or there is a serious error in the records that needs to be cleared before being able to receive an approval. If a NICS check comes back as ‘Delayed’, additional information is needed (calls to other agencies for deeper records checks) before an approval is granted.
Officially, NICS has three business days to correct the delay, or the FFL can choose transfer the firearm to the individual as if the NICS check returned an approval. Most FFLs, based on liability concerns, will not transfer after three business days with an unanswered ‘Delay’ application. Their business, their rules.
The overwhelming majority of non-prohibited persons receive an approved NICS check while they are waiting at the gun store. A small fraction of individuals receive a ‘Delay’ every time they submit for a NICS check, and are able to submit a challenge or voluntary appeal to the decision. The individual can also apply for a Unique Personal Identifying Number (UPIN) that will be used on future 4473 Form/NICS checks to resolve any misidentified records for individuals with similar information as prohibited persons. Also, for privacy reasons, some applicants do not include their social security number on the Form 4473 which can increase the likelihood of a ‘delay’ response.
The above process is for standard firearms purchases. NFA transfers still use the NICS system for background check approvals in all 50 states. In the case of NFA items, the ATF contacts the FBI to complete the NICS check, not the FFL. Also, in contrast to “normal” Title I firearms, NFA items do not benefit from the ‘Delay’ processing function, especially when it comes to the three business day exemption. A delay means that the ATF application stops and is set aside with other NICS issue applications until they can be resolved at a later time.
In the past, NICS checks meant that the NFA application was pushed into the next phase of the process in a first in, first out system. As of recently, NFA applications that receive a NICS approval are immediately worked until completion. If the timing is right and the stars align, the application is approved in 24-48 hours.
Right now, the process is still slower for trust applications because of the extra checks required for responsible persons and document reviews.
With all of the above information in mind, here’s my winning Form 4/Form 1 application formula:
- Use the eForm system.
- File as an individual.
- Include your Social Security Number on the application.
- Get any ‘Delay’ issues resolved and get a UPIN if necessary
- Be somewhat lucky
I think we can all agree that any wait in application approvals is too long. However, let’s enjoy any progress we get. It is strange though, it seems like if all of the documents are submitted in the ATF eForms system that the FFL could submit the applicants 4473 information for a NICS check while the customer is waiting. If the NICS check is approved, the individual drives home with their new suppressor. I don’t see any logistical or legal reason that the background check system can’t operate the same way as when someone is buying a rifle, shotgun, or pistol.
But then again, I’m not I charge.
Five Suppressors You Should Buy Now:
Obviously this is not a comprehensive list of must-have suppressors – I prioritized price and performance. But with fast NFA approval times on the menu, if you happen to be in your local dealer, one of these is sitting in the case, and you have always wanted a silencer but couldn’t bear the nine month wait, these are all great impulse buys. I selected the Phantom 22 and the Turbo T3 because for they just perform, not because YHM sponsors Silencer Saturday.
Have a great week. Be safe, have fun, and we’ll see you back here next weekend for another Silencer Saturday.
