How long does the wait actually take?
Nobody can give you a date. Here is what genuinely affects your approval, and what does not.
The honest answer first.
Approval times move. They have moved enormously over the last few years, mostly downward as electronic filing replaced paper. Any dealer who gives you a firm number is quoting an average that may not apply by the time your application is in the queue. We will tell you what we are seeing on approvals coming back to this shop right now, and we will not dress it up.
Electronic filing is the thing that helps.
The single biggest factor in modern approval times is whether the application was filed electronically with clean, digitally captured fingerprints. Paper applications and smudged ink cards are what generate rejections and restarts. Through our 10Scan partnership your prints are captured digitally and the whole application is filed electronically.
What does not help.
Filing as a trust rather than an individual does not speed anything up. Paying more does not — the tax is $0 either way now. Calling the ATF does not. There is no expedite path for civilian transfers.
What slows you down.
A rejected fingerprint card, an incomplete responsible-person list on a trust, a mismatch between your ID and the address on the form. Every one of those sends the application back and restarts the clock. Getting the paperwork right in the shop is worth more than anything you can do afterwards.
While you wait.
The suppressor is yours — paid for, in our safe, and registered to your pending application. You cannot possess it until the stamp comes back. We call you the day it does.
Common questions
How long is the Form 4 wait right now?
It moves, and we will not quote a number that might be wrong by the time you file. Call the shop on 832-488-3464 and we will tell you what approvals are coming back at this week.
Is a trust faster than an individual?
No. Applicant type does not affect queue position.
Can I pay to expedite it?
No. There is no expedite option for civilian NFA transfers.
Can I check my status?
The ATF's eForms portal shows the status of an electronically filed application. We will also tell you what we can see from our end.