Purchasing NFA Items

[Mr. Waverly]

With all the hub-bub surrounding possible changes to items on the NFA list that we've been hearing about (and I hope these are reliable rumors), do you think it would make sense to wait a couple of months before purchasing a suppressor or SBR? It would really be nice to walk into my LGS, put my money down, and walk away with a suppressor without all the paperwork and tax stamp.

[mr44]

Give it time only been a few weeks things are still being sorted out

[pscipio03]

Depends on how long you want to wait. For the Hearing Safe Act to actually make it through, we're talking year(s), not months.
SBR's being removed, likely the same unless it could somehow get rammed through Congress. Even then, the Circuit courts would be all over it hemming it up for a bit.
Best case there's a 'freedom week' or so. If that happened, all the cans and SBRs would be swiped up by buyers.
So, I don't think there's a good answer.

Personally, I'm hoping the registry is opened up. If that happens, I'll be buying a drill press and converting all my lowers. Trigger costs alone would kill my bank account.

[Jailer]

My personal opinion is that I'll believe it when I see it when it comes to any of the proposed changes. And so far the only change that any action has been taken on that I'm aware of is removing suppressors from the NFA. It's going to take some congress critters expending some political capitol to get it passed and I'm not confident that it will. All it takes is another shooting and it's all off the table again.

[M5NSX]

Doubt this will happen. Look at it this way-the $200 for the stamp has been unchanged since 1934. Let’s be glad they haven’t adjusted for inflation over the last 90 years!! My last stamps got approved in a couple days with eforms. I waited up to a year or more for dozens and dozens of stamps in the past so it’s a huge improvement!!

[PatriotWholesale]

IF it will happen I highly doubt it will be an overnight change (or even days or months). Most likely it would probably be at least a year.

Trump does seem to be doing more than last time (granted it's still better than having a dem) but at the same time I'm not holding my breath.

[slingshot77]

With all the hub-bub surrounding possible changes to items on the NFA list that we've been hearing about (and I hope these are reliable rumors), do you think it would make sense to wait a couple of months before purchasing a suppressor or SBR? It would really be nice to walk into my LGS, put my money down, and walk away with a suppressor without all the paperwork and tax stamp.

That is a decision to make! If you buy now and pay the $200.00 tax stamp then you probably have your choice of suppressors at a descent (and probably somewhat discounted) price.

If you wait and by chance suppressors do get taken off of the NFA list requiring a tax stamp then you most likely won't be able to find the suppressor of your choice without a long back-order wait. Not to mention if they go main stream with no tax stamp required there will be an instant high demand so the price will probably go up at least that $200.00 you saved.

[pscipio03]

That is a decision to make! If you buy now and pay the $200.00 tax stamp then you probably have your choice of suppressors at a descent (and probably somewhat discounted) price.

If you wait and by chance suppressors do get taken off of the NFA list requiring a tax stamp then you most likely won't be able to find the suppressor of your choice without a long back-order wait. Not to mention if they go main stream with no tax stamp required there will be an instant high demand so the price will probably go up at least that $200.00 you saved.

Agree with the first part, disagree with the second part. Cans are pricey because there's just very little competition. The barrier to entry is too much of a PITA for many manufacturers to get involved. Remove that gov't made barrier, and you'll have these things crawling out of the woodwork. Inventory levels will eventually catch up and soon saturate the market.
Within a year of them being removed (assuming that were to happen) I'd be willing to bet you see $800 cans going for under $350. Plus, you just suddenly opened up the resale market where it never really existed. Imagine buying a slightly used RC2 for $200 to $300 and HUX Flows for even less.

[pscipio03]

I should also add that you'd be seeing a HUGE increase in the homemade silencer realm. I built my own many years ago from a kit that I purchased (after getting my stamp of course).
It is a 22lr can that works darn near as good as my other manufacturer made ones. All I needed was the jig and a good set up bits and within 2 hours I had a can.
With the advent of metal 3D printing, I see no reason why these won't be common. Heck, even with fiber 3D printers you could just print out a dozen 22 cans and have them literally be disposable.
The opportunities are endless. And because of that, I see can prices dropping faster than Enron stock.