New Suppressor Rule 90 Day Comment Period

[hso]

ATF just dropped this for comment.


https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/definition-frame-or-receiver/summary

On May 7, 2021, the Attorney General signed ATF proposed rule 2021R-05, Definition of “Frame or Receiver” and Identification of Firearms. The goal of the proposed rule is to ensure the proper marking, record keeping, and traceability of all firearms manufactured, imported, acquired and disposed by federal firearms licensees.

Please note that this is the text of the proposed rule as signed by the Attorney General, but the official version of the proposed rule will be as it is published in the Federal Register.
https://www.atf.gov/file/154586/download

Marking, Registration, and Transfer Requirements for Silencers
Under the proposed rule, a “frame or receiver” of a firearm muffler or silencer device is defined as a housing or holding structure for one or more essential internal components of the device, including, but not limited to, baffles, baffling material, or expansion chamber.

Manufacturers and makers of complete muffler or silencer devices need only mark each part (or specific part(s) previously determined by ATF) of the device defined as a “frame or receiver” under this rule. However, individual muffler or silencer parts must be marked if they are disposed of separately from a complete device unless transferred by qualified manufacturers to other qualified licensees for the manufacture or repair of complete devices.

A qualified manufacturer may:

• Transfer a silencer part to another qualified manufacturer without immediately identifying or registering such part provided that, upon receipt, it is actively used to manufacture a complete muffler or silencer device.
  
• Transfer a replacement silencer part other than a frame or receiver to a qualified manufacturer or dealer without identifying or registering such part provided that, upon receipt, it is actively used to repair a complete muffler or silencer device that was previously identified and registered in accordance with this part.

Persons may temporarily convey a lawfully possessed NFA firearm, including a silencer, to a qualified manufacturer or dealer for the sole purpose of repair, identification, evaluation, research, testing, or calibration, and return to the same lawful possessor without additional identification or registration.

Submit a Comment
ATF is receiving comments on the proposed rule for 90 days from the date the proposed rule is posted in the Federal Register.

You may submit comments by mail, fax or the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.

 

[Havok7416]

I read through it and I'm unclear as to what change is being proposed. What am I missing?

 

[MachIVshooter]

I read through it and I'm unclear as to what change is being proposed. What am I missing?

Nothing as far as production cans go, but this has serious implications for F1 stuff. They've been going after outfits offering solvent trap/filter kits, but these redefinitions seem to be targeting tubes by themselves.

It won't be so bad if it ends up working out like Quelltech's arrangement where they can sell engraved form 1 kits (no disingenuous semantics) with an approved F1, but it's gonna suck if threaded tubes have to transfer F4. That part is unclear.

 

[Gordon]

Yep.

 

[milsurpguy]

If a threaded tube is a silencer then what about all those threaded tubes in the plumbing section of a hardware store?
Not all silencers have threaded tube parts.

This looks like it makes it way easier for you get your silencer repaired or get a replacement part.
Makes it sound like you can get replacement wipes for your wipe silencer from a dealer and not have to send it off to a manufacturer to get fresh wipes. As if that rules was being followed by anyone.
Appears they want to tighten restrictions on the tube and loosen restrictions on everything else. That's probably how it always should have been.

If the AFT really wanted to kill the solovent trap market then they would make form 4s take a month or less and make form 1s take 10 months.

 

[greyling22]

yep, you want to kill the form 1 market, make the form 4 an efile. It's all the same paperwork anyway. (of course that would be putting miracle grow on the form 4 market, which is probably not what the ARF wants either)

 

[merlynski]

It also clamps down on 80% 'frames' and 3-d printed parts. More oversight, less freedom, for Americans. Easier, higher conviction rates for prosecutors.