• Embrace the Quiet: Owning a suppressor offers a quieter, more enjoyable shooting experience, reducing noise and recoil for you and those around you.  
• Stay Compliant, Stay Ready: Keep your tax stamp handy, understand state laws, and accessorize smartly to maximize the benefits of your suppressor.  
• Maintenance Made Easy: With minimal upkeep, a suppressor is a hassle-free addition to your firearms collection, ensuring peak performance with simple cleaning routines.  
• Travel with Confidence: Whether you're heading to the range or across states, transporting your suppressor is simple, ensuring you're ready for silent shooting wherever you go.

• How to Own a Silencer
  
• Do You Need Your Tax Stamp?  
• What States Are Suppressors Legal In? 
• Silencer Accessories
• Cleaning a Suppressor
• Transporting a Suppressor
• Moving with a Suppressor
• Range Trips
• Conclusion

Shooting with a silencer is some of the most fun you can have while shooting, and buying a suppressor to add to your collection is a great milestone in your firearm ownership career. 

We get to help many new suppressor owners daily, and we see a few questions pop up consistently, so this blog aims to tackle all the info you need to know after you've got your first silencer.  

We'll cover everything from suppressor accessories you might want to traveling with your can, maintenance, and more to help you get the most out of your new suppressor.  

You just got a Form 4 tax stamp approval. Congrats! Now, what do you need to do with a tax stamp for silencers? 

You must keep a copy of the NFA stamp and approved Form with your new suppressor. With eForm submissions, you'll receive an email upon approval with a PDF containing your approved Form and tax stamp. We recommend saving that PDF electronically to your phone and printing off at least two copies.  

Keep one physical copy locked away in your safe or filing cabinet with your other important documents, and keep the other in your gun case or shooting bag you keep your suppressor in. 

You'll always have a copy of your stamp with your suppressor and a backup on your phone -- just in case. 

Silencers are legal in nearly all states across the nation. 

Currently, 42 states allow the possession and use of silencers, and 41 where hunting with a suppressor is allowed. Connecticut allows the use of suppressors, but not while hunting. 

States that currently consider suppressors unlawful include: 

• California 
• Delaware 
• Hawaii 
• Illinois 
• Massachusetts 
• New Jersey 
• New York 
• Rhode Island 
• The District of Columbia 

Outside of super quiet shooting, one of the most fun parts of suppressor ownership is using aftermarket accessories to customize it to your needs. Most silencers these days use interchangeable mounts, some use swappable endcaps, and there are suppressor covers as well. 

Suppressors that feature the common 1.35 HUB mount allow you to change out the mounting device from direct thread to quick detach (QD) systems, to give you more versatility for moving the suppressor to different host weapons. The things to consider are which guns do you want to use the silencer on, do those guns have different threads, and how often are you going to move the silencer around.  
If the suppressor is going to stay on one firearm, or multiple firearms with the same thread pitch (for example a bunch of AR15s with 1/2x28 threads) then a direct thread mount is simple, lightweight, compact, and your silencer probably included one in the box.  

IF you plan to use the silencer on a bunch of different calibers, like .223 and 300BLK, then a QD system might make more sense for you. QD systems use a muzzle device on your firearm, and an adapter on the silencer. You can get muzzle devices in different threads to match your desired firearms, and then quickly swap the silencer from host to host without having to change out mounts.

Some suppressors use modular front caps that can be swapped out and customized for different tasks. These interchangeable end caps allow you to change the bore aperture of the silencer, to get more performance from a specific cartridge, for example you could get a 5.56 end cap for your 30caliber silencer for maximum performance. There are also flash hiding end caps to reduce muzzle flash, and even external brakes to cut down on recoil even more. 

Suppressors can get hot if you’re sending a lot of rounds down range, too hot to touch safely, so suppressor covers are a simple way to keep you and your gear (We’ve seen holes burned in shooting mats, bags, etc.) safe while shooting suppressed. These covers are also useful in hunting or precision shooting scenarios to eliminate heat mirage coming off of the silencer, and for some additional camouflage if you need it. 

If you're like most of us, you come home from the range, bust out the Hoppes or Ballistol, and get to cleaning. 

Luckily, with most silencers, there is very little to do for regular maintenance in your suppressor cleaning process.  

Centerfire rifle and pistol silencers are usually fully welded and require very little cleaning. We recommend using a drop-in cleaning solution like HUXWRX Suppressor Sauce or CAT206 every couple thousand rounds to keep your cans performing at their peak. 

Rimfire 22 silencers are a different story. 22LR ammo uses an exposed lead bullet and a dirtier priming compound, so the silencers' baffles get fouled with carbon and lead very quickly. These suppressors can usually be taken apart clean the baffles with brushes and clothes to remove any carbon fouling. 

For the newer style sealed rimfire suppressors, the same cleaning solutions mentioned for sealed rifle and pistol suppressors will work for these, too! 

Whether you're going across town for a range trip or across the country for a hunting trip, taking your silencer with you is simple. 

In most cases, treat the suppressor exactly like you would a firearm, and you'll be okay; different states and locales have different laws on how to transport firearms. 

Generally, having the silencer in a locked case in your vehicle's trunk or cargo area is a safe bet for transportation. 

If you're flying with a silencer, it's simple! You'll need a hard-sided case and locks on each eyelet, and you're good to go! 

Just declare the suppressor at the checked baggage drop-off, just like you would any other firearm. The airline will tag your bag, and it will be checked for your flight.  

We strongly recommend using a trackable device inside the case to ensure your firearms case gets on your flight and is located at baggage claim. When possible, it is also recommended to take direct flights to avoid potential layovers or delays in states where NFA items are unlawful. 

If you have a suppressor and need to move, don't worry; it's easy. 

If you're moving to a state where silencers are legal (the only states you should consider), there is nothing for you to do 

Moving with a short barreled rifle, short barreled shotgun, destructive device, or machine gun (lucky), you will need to fill out an ATF Form 5320.20 to notify of a permanent change of address, but this form is not required for moving with a suppressor. 

If you are moving to a state where suppressors are illegal, you'll have to leave the silencer with a responsible person named on your trust who resides in a suppressor legal state. If you filed as an individual, you may have to dispose of the silencer. Check with your local ATF office on the proper process to relinquish ownership of your silencer. 

Instead of surrendering your silencer, consider moving to a free state like Texas! 

The best part about owning a suppressor is the joy of shooting suppressed. 

Get rid of the ringing in your ears, the concussive muzzle blast hitting your face, and enjoy the reduced sound and recoil. 

Here are a few things you should have in your range bag to ensure your suppressed range days go smoothly. 

Keeping a basic set of hand tools will help ensure you spend your range time shooting instead of going home early because your gear went down. 

We recommend keeping these tools on hand:  

• Adjustable wrench  
• Allen keys  
• Armorers Wrench  
• Torq-Set 

There isn't much on a rifle or pistol that can't be fixed with these basic tools. 

You can tighten or remove silencers and muzzle devices, adjust and secure optics, adjust gas blocks, and tighten up caste nuts if anything starts to rattle loose. 

To maximize the sound performance of suppressed shooting, you might want to use subsonic ammo. 

Subsonic ammo has a velocity under 1100 FPS, or the speed of sound. 

The most common types of subsonic ammo are:  

• .22LR  
• 300BLK  
• 8.6BLK  
• 9MM  
• 45ACP  

If you're shooting one of these calibers, getting some subsonic rounds will really show off just how quiet your silencer can be. 

Subsonic ammo avoids the sonic crack of breaking the sound barrier and is almost always hearing safe while shooting suppressed. 

We talked earlier about silencers getting hot. 

Keeping a heatproof mitt in your bag can help you to snug down a hot suppressor or remove it and attach it to a different rifle while it's still hot.  

These also double as a mat to lay the silencer on as it cools to avoid burning holes in nylon gear or tables. 

Safety is important.  

Keeping your eyes safe is just as critical as protecting your ears. A good pair of shooting glasses will keep debris and particulates out of your eyes and protect your vision on the range. 

If you're shooting long strings of suppressed fire or doing intense training days, your rifle or pistol can get hot.  

A pair of shooting gloves will give you better purchase on your guns and keep your hands comfortable when your firearms start to heat up.  

If you get a pair of leather gloves, they can also help remove a hot suppressor or tighten it down. 

Owning a suppressor is an exciting step up in the world of firearms, offering a quieter, more pleasant shooting experience.  

Following the simple steps laid out: 

• How you should store your tax stamp  
• Choosing the right accessories  
• Understanding how to care for your new gear 

You'll be all set to enjoy the many benefits of your suppressor. 

It's not just about the thrill of super quiet shots; it's about enhancing your time shooting guns while hunting or training. Your ears will thank you! 

Embrace the journey of suppressor ownership with enthusiasm, and you'll discover a whole new dimension to your shooting adventures that's as rewarding as it is fun. 

Stay informed, stay safe, and let the good times roll—silently!