Central Texas Class 3 dealers

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Prince Yamato

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For those of you who are regulars on the board, you probably have seen my posts about wanting a 9mm suppressor. I've pretty much narrowed my choice to a YHM Cobra with 1/2x28 threads. I'm now shopping around for the lowest possible price on this item. Currently, buying online from Major Malfunction seems to be the cheapest. The problem now is that I can't find a Class 3 dealer in Central Texas (Austin area) who will transfer the item without charging me $100-200 for the transfer. This pretty much bumps the price back up to retail or eliminates the advantage of not having to pay sales tax. It seems that with a lot of the dealers, you have to "grease the wheels" so to speak or pay for the "privilege" of owning one of these items. It's like I'm "insulting the family" by not buying the item from them. It's really very "goomba" if you ask me. Is that the normal transfer fee for these items? Other than the $200 tax and the LEO sign-off, these items aren't really that different than title 1 guns, so I call B.S. on these dealers. Of course, maybe I'm just not in the proper financial position to buy one of these items, but if I see something listed for $499, I shouldn't end up paying twice that price by the time the sale is done. Again, I'm not talking about the NFA tax. I can live with that. I can swing the $500+tax, but when they're bumping prices to $700-900 sans tax, that's a little too steep.

Another question: are there any other hidden costs that I need to be aware of? I think a lot of what these dealers tell me sounds like a load of elitist garbage. "Oh, you need a special adapter for the 1/2x28 threads... that's about $200 extra..." The suppressors are available from the factory in 1/2x28 threads. They also seem to want to charge me extra for the Nielson device... which is integrated into the Cobra. They seem to be overcharging for an aluminum tube with bent metal inside of it. Folks, tell me if I'm wrong here and if possible, can I get the names of Class 3 dealers who won't break my bank to transfer a weapon from out of state?
 
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I'm also curious, is there anything that justifies the NFA transfer fees being higher than title 1 transfer fees?
 
I'm also curious, is there anything that justifies the NFA transfer fees being higher than title 1 transfer fees?
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Well, there are relatively few Class 3 dealers compared to regular FFLs, so they can command a premium for their services. Basic economics, when you're the only game in town, you can charge whatever you want.

I'm not saying that its right to rip off people; but why do they do it? Because they can.
 
I was looking into suppressors about a year ago. I asked several dealers why the transfer cost was so high and they all told me it was because they would fill out all of the paperwork and walk me though the process. While I thought the cost was a little high but eventually I came to the conclusion that its just part of the cost of buying a suppressor.

I found several good recommendations on AR15.com when I asked for a good dealer. You might want to check there.
 
is there anything that justifies the NFA transfer fees being higher than title 1 transfer fees?
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A Class 3 SOT costs $500 per year, not to mention the additional paperwork.
 
It is reasonably common for them to charge $100.
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Well I'll be damned. That's one of those little details folks leave out when they tell you how affordable Class 3 can be. :rolleyes:

So when people were telling me that I could get into this game for $500+NFA tax, they basically had no clue what they were talking about. It's really $500+NFA tax+$100 transfer tax+ (knowing my luck) overnight shipping and I'll bet fingerprinting will cost me more than I want to pay too. So, in other words, I'm going to be paying upwards of $1000, won't I?

Just curious, do Class 3 items require overnight shipping?
 
Silencers do not require overnight shipping.

I wouldn't say they "have no clue" - most of the people telling you that own NFA weapons so they are familiar with the process. Not all of them are paying $100 though. Many SOTs charge $50 or even $25 if you hunt around. I get free transfers from a range buddy. :) Many LE offices don't charge for fingerprinting. If you use a trust you don't need prints or photos or LEO signature.

You shouldn't even come close to $1k for a Cobra 9. $450+200+100 = $750 max, plus a few bucks shipping/photos/prints. NFA is not a poor man's game. Once you shoot the Cobra 9 you will start looking for things around the house that you can sell to fund your next Title II item.
 
chuck tooke from chucks class 3 has done 4 transfers for me over the past 5 years.

he is in round rock. 100-200 dollars is about the going charge. NFA items are a very patient and expensive game. if you buy from he will possably waive the transfer charge. unless an item is in stock on form 3 or 4 , plan at least 3 weeks for transfer paperwork from atf to dealer and another 2-6 months for transfer to you .
 
Gun Broker lists him as $50. Darn. Well, there's others in the $75 range. I guess it's not horrible, I just get rather frustrated when unplanned expenses show up. This might be a project that gets put on hold for awhile then. As far as the "don't have a clue" comment, I basically meant that people seem to leave this out when they're talking about total cost of ownership. Like, "oops, I guess I forgot to mention that it's an additional hundred dollars to get the item transferred to you!"
 
call chuck and see what he has and the price. most of the time he will meet prices and will not charge a fee if you buy from him. you just have to ask. GOOD SOT's are few and far between. NFA items are not your average firearms. you just dont go down to the local dealer and walk out with one. there is ALOT more paperwork involved with class 3 stuff.

other charges....remember you need a threaded barrel for the firearm and sub sonic bullets to get the most from your new toy.

what is the suppressor going on?
 
While Maj Malfunction has the best prices on cans, you do have to factor in transfer fees. Sometimes it's actually a better deal to pay MSRP if a local dealer carries what you need, since most dealers waive transfer fees if you buy from them.

Example: SWR Spectre
$395 from MM + 200 + 125 transfer = $720

$495 full msrp locally + 200 + 0 transfer = $695

Word to the wise: NEVER, EVER, in your WHOLE LIFE, buy an NFA item which is not in-stock and ready to ship from the seller.
 
I'm also curious, is there anything that justifies the NFA transfer fees being higher than title 1 transfer fees?
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Part of it is a supply/demand issue, part of it is that their license costs a lot more than a Title I license, and if you've ever hear the old "time is money" line, that is a big part of it right there.

For Title I, I email my license to the seller, they send me a gun, I call you, you fill out a 4473 and I run a background check, and you are on your merry way. Sometime I spend a few minutes explaining the process to a new buyer. Most Title I transfers around here run $20-50 depending on the store.

When I buy a suppressor, I call the Title II dealer, who gets to fill out the tax free dealer to dealer transfer paperwork, which is a form 3. You can see it here
http://www.titleii.com/pdf/010205-Form3.pdf

Needless to say, it takes more time to fill out than emailing a license copy. It isn't difficult, but it takes more time. Also, most people don't know what they are doing, so explaining the process takes a lot more time. Also, when your suppressor arrives at the dealer, you probably aren't going to be allowed to pick it up for 2-3 (sometimes 6) months, so he is storing your property for several months.

Like anything else, some places are a rip off, but I'd say it is easily more than 3 times the work of a Title I transfer.

I just ordered a can from Chuck Tooke of www.chucksclass3.com in Round Rock.

You might want to try emailing him for a price on the model you are looking for. Even after tax was added, he was pretty competitive to buying online.
 
The way I'm looking at it now, I think I should just hold off, save more up and get exactly what I want instead of having to try and run around Central Texas to buy it. However, these threads have given me a pretty good idea of what I need to do and who is the cheapest in the area. Thanks guys!
 
The way I'm looking at it now, I think I should just hold off, save more up and get exactly what I want instead of having to try and run around Central Texas to buy it.
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Just so you know, depending on the dealer it may only be one trip. I placed my order via email, Chuck sent the paperwork by mail, I'll mail the paperwork into the CLEO for sign off, and then mail it to the ATF. I'll have to leave the house in about 3 months to go pick up the suppressor from Chuck. I know with higher gas prices traveling all around may not be an option.

I will encourage you to save up and get exactly what you want. The resale value on cans is pretty low, so it is worth saving up for whatever you want, because you'll basically own it forever.
 
The resale value on cans is pretty low, so it is worth saving up for whatever you want, because you'll basically own it forever.
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Right, this is also what I was thinking. You see used MGs, SBRs, and SBSs all the time, you NEVER see a used suppressor.
 
I've used someone from this site to do transfers in Austin. He's Class 3. Good guy, very reasonable prices. Do a Google search for Spreadfire Arms. He's up near Anderson Mill.
 
+1 for Steve Ou of Spreadfire Arms if you want someone in the Austin area. Great guy to work with and reasonable prices.
 
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