The legal process to get a silencer

[Commander Guineapig]

my neighbor at my folks place is a bit of a nutcase.
So...shooting quietly is better then not shooting at all.
CB caps are good for only so far tho.
So my questions are:
From Start to Finish what is the basic outline of order of
events to be able to legally buy and use a silencer for plinking?
Also, I have heard the term "CLEO sign off" thrown around.
What is that?
And what is the total cost incurred into the whole of it?
feel free to link to info, I've done a few searches and only gotten
smatterings of info.
thanks!

GP

 

[hankdatank1362]

CLEO = Chief Law Enforcement Officer; Sherrif, etc...

Cost: $200 NFA stamp tax + actual cost of suppressor and possibly FFL transfer

 

[w.Clark]

the steps

1. check your state and local laws to be certain you can legally own and possess (and use) a suppressor.
2. Go to a dealer that is licensed to sell the items. Purchase the suppressor. Usually the dealer will help you fill out the transfer/and application for Tax Stamp. The dealer will keep the suppressor until the paperwork comes through.
3. Have yourself fingerprinted and photographed. (twice)
4. Go to your local law enforcement agency and have them fill out the proper portion on the back of the form. (they will run a background check, basically the same as purchasing a firearm)
5. Attach a check for $200.00 to the paperwork and send it in to Needy Road address, ( I think that is still the street)
6. and wait.

 

[OEF_VET]

1) Decide on which suppressor you want, and agree to a price with your dealer.

2) Fill out two copies of BATFE Form 5320.4 (aka Form 4), two fingerprint cards (your dealer might do the prints, might have you go to the local PD), and one Certificate of Compliance (stupidest form in history, basically you write your name twice, "United States" once, and sign / date it - you are certifying that you are a US citizen).

3) Get 2 passport photos (Walgreens, CVS, Wal-Mart all do them fairly cheap) Attach the photos to the Form 4's, using tape, glue, or staples.

4) Go visit your local CLEO (Chief of Police, Sheriff, or District Attorney), and get them to sign the Form 4's. When you get the Form 4's back from the CLEO, double check to ensure they wrote your name in the appropriate blank, as quite often they don't, at least many CLEO around here don't.

4a) If your CLEO won't sign, you can form a trust and bypass the CLEO, photos, and fingerprints.

5) Mail the Form 4's, Fingerprint cards, Certificate of Compliance, and a check for $200 to BATFE - NFA Branch, PO Box 530298, Atlanta, GA 30353-0298.

6) Wait. About 6 weeks later, BATFE will return a copy of the Form 4, with a stamp affixed to your dealer. They will call you and tell you to get your stuff out of their store.

7) Make numerous copies of your Form 4. Store the original in a safe place, such as where you keep birth/marriage/death certificates, mortgages, etc. Put copies in your range bag, gun safe, gun cases, and glove compartment. You can also shrink it, laminate it, and keep a copy in your wallet, if you wish. Basically, don't go anywhere with the can , but without a copy of the Form 4.

 

[granuale]

You might wanna spend some time here

 

[Taurus44]

You could also setup a trust (took me 10 minutes with the Quicken Willmaker software) and skip the pictures, finger-prints and CLEO sign-off for any NFA regulated item you ever want to buy.

It still requires the $200 fee and Form 4 and other associated paperwork and costs, but it saves a TON of time and hassle.

 

[Bartkowski]

This is off topic, but why do you need a silencer to shoot just because a neighbor is a nutcase?

 

[Guido2006]

Don't forget the cost of getting your barrel(s) threaded. Probably in the $100 +/- 50 range.

 

[Commander Guineapig]

what does the trust do exactly?
how hard is it? what do you do?

This is off topic, but why do you need a silencer to shoot just because a neighbor is a nutcase?

it's a long story to say the least...he just needs to not hear us shoot basically.

Don't forget the cost of getting your barrel(s) threaded. Probably in the $100 +/- 50 range.

yeah...I did find a Ruger 10/22 bbl on gunbroker and that kind of inspired
me to look into it all a bit. The bbl is threaded for a silencer specifically.
$150...so close enough. probly have to double check sizes on the bbl and
the can, but that's step 3,438 and we're on step 1.

GP

 

[Conqueror]

This is off topic, but why do you need a silencer to shoot just because a neighbor is a nutcase?

This is a common reason for buying suppressors. People get tired of the neighbors calling the cops every time they're plinking cans in the backyard.