Making History: Bauer Precision Transfers First Suppressor on a 4473

On August 14, 2026, Bauer Precision made firearms history.

We completed our first suppressor transfer on a standard ATF Form 4473. No Form 4. No $200 tax stamp. No months-long wait for ATF approval. Just a background check and the customer walked out the door with their suppressor the same day.

This is not a drill. It is not a headline we are borrowing. It happened at our counter, and it is happening now.

Here is everything you need to know about what we are doing, what qualifies, and what has not changed.

What happened

On August 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix of the Northern District of Texas ruled in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF that the NFA's registration and approval requirements for suppressors are unconstitutional.

The logic is straightforward. The NFA was enacted in 1934 under Congress's taxing power. It imposed a $200 transfer tax on suppressors (and other items). Congress eliminated that tax effective January 1, 2026, but left the registration, fingerprinting, ATF approval, and Form 4 process in place. Judge Hendrix ruled that without a tax generating revenue, the regulatory apparatus built on the taxing power has no constitutional foundation.

The court entered a permanent injunction. A seven-day stay expired on August 12 without the Fifth Circuit intervening. The injunction took effect.

Bauer Precision is operating within the scope of that injunction.

What qualifies for 4473 suppressor transfer

The injunction applies to named plaintiffs in the lawsuit and their customers. That shapes what we can transfer on a 4473:

SilencerCo suppressors - SilencerCo is a named commercial plaintiff. Any SilencerCo suppressor in our inventory qualifies for same-day 4473 transfer in-store. Online orders ship to your chosen FFL for transfer.

B&T suppressors - B&T USA is a named commercial plaintiff. Any B&T suppressor in our inventory qualifies for same-day 4473 transfer in-store. Online orders ship to your FFL.

Silencer Shop-sourced inventory - Silencer Shop is a named plaintiff. We carry a significant amount of suppressor inventory sourced through them. Qualification for these items is case-by-case because it depends on the specific product and its origin. Call us or check online and we will tell you exactly what qualifies.

Other brands - We stock additional suppressor brands acquired through various distributors. We are still working through which of these items qualify under the injunction. Contact us and we will give you a straight answer.

What does NOT qualify

This is just as important as knowing what does qualify.

Machine guns and destructive devices - Completely unaffected. They retained their $200 tax and full NFA regulation. Nothing changes for these items.

Short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and AOWs - These were included in the court ruling striking down NFA registration requirements. However, SBRs and SBSs remain separately regulated under the Gun Control Act of 1968. That means they are not available for 4473 transfer at this time. We are only processing suppressors through the 4473 pathway. Do not assume the ruling means you can buy an SBR the same way.

State-restricted items - If you live in a state that bans suppressors or has its own state-level NFA registration requirement, this federal ruling does not override that. Know your state law before you buy.

How the process works

If you are coming to the store:

1. Come in. This is an in-person transfer. We verify your ID and run the background check.
2. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Same as any firearm purchase.
3. Pick your suppressor. We tell you what qualifies for 4473 transfer and what does not.
4. Complete the 4473. You fill out the standard ATF Form 4473, same as buying any firearm. We run the NICS background check.
5. Pass the background check. If you are clear, you are done.
6. Walk out with your suppressor. Same day. No Form 4. No tax stamp. No registration. No waiting.

If you are shopping online:

Suppressors purchased online ship to your chosen FFL for transfer. If your receiving FFL is set up for 4473 suppressor transfers under the injunction, you could pick it up same-day once it arrives. Check with your local dealer.

What about GOA membership?

The injunction also protects members of Gun Owners of America and other plaintiff organizations. The operational details of how that applies to dealer transfers are still being worked out across the industry. Our 4473 transfer process is currently built around the named commercial plaintiffs: SilencerCo, B&T, and Silencer Shop inventory. If you are a GOA member and want to explore whether that expands what you can purchase, talk to us. We are staying current on this and will update as the situation clarifies.

What about pending Form 4s?

If you have a Form 4 already in process with us, that transfer is still in the ATF pipeline. The injunction does not automatically cancel pending Form 4s. Contact us if you want to discuss your options, but do not assume anything has changed for items already submitted.

Is this permanent?

Honest answer: we do not know yet. The DOJ retains time to appeal to the Fifth Circuit, and the Fifth Circuit could grant a stay that puts the full NFA process back in effect. This could last. It could also change. We are telling our customers to take advantage of it while it is here, and we will keep you updated if the legal situation shifts.

What has not changed

Even with the Form 4 requirement lifted for qualifying suppressors, the basics of a firearm purchase still apply:

• You still complete a Form 4473 and pass a NICS background check
• Suppressors remain legally firearms under the Gun Control Act
• State laws still apply in full
• Machine guns and destructive devices are fully regulated as always
• SBRs and SBSs remain regulated under the Gun Control Act and are not part of the 4473 transfer pathway
• FFL recordkeeping requirements remain in effect

This is a significant moment for suppressor owners, but it is not a free-for-all. We are operating carefully, within the scope of the injunction, and we expect our customers to do the same.

The bottom line

SilencerCo and B&T suppressors. Same day. 4473. No Form 4. No wait.

If you have been thinking about a suppressor, this is the time.

The Bauer Precision Team

This article describes a developing legal situation. Bauer Precision is operating within the scope of the federal court injunction in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF. This is not legal advice. State laws still apply. Federal firearms laws carry serious penalties. Consult qualified counsel for questions about your specific situation.