Why Suppressors Are Taking Off

For years, a lot of people avoided suppressors because they thought the process was too confusing, too expensive, or too slow. Some people thought you needed a special license to own one. You do not. The dealer needs the proper FFL/SOT setup to handle NFA items, but the average buyer does not need a “Class 3 license” to own a suppressor.

Other people thought the old $200 tax stamp was an annual fee. It was not. It was a one-time tax. Now that suppressor tax is $0, which removes one of the biggest mental roadblocks for a lot of buyers.

The process used to be a lot more painful. Paper forms, ink fingerprints, physical photos, mailing paperwork, and long wait times made suppressors feel out of reach for many people. Today, the process is much more streamlined through ATF eForms.

A dealer like Mattson Munitions can help with electronic fingerprints, photos, ATF Form 4 submission, and walking the customer through what needs to happen.

By The Numbers: This Is Not A Small Trend

The suppressor boom is not just internet hype. The numbers are wild.

Put that in plain English: suppressors went from “maybe someday” to “why haven’t I started this yet?” for a lot of regular shooters and hunters.

American Rifleman reported that from 1968 to 2023, roughly 3 million suppressors had been registered on a Form 4. After wait times dropped in 2024, suppressor purchases surged, with more than 1.5 million purchases through the end of 2025. Then 2026 hit, and applications started pouring in at a pace the industry had never seen before.

The part that still matters is doing it right. You still need the Form 4. You still need fingerprints and a photo. You still need ATF approval. You still need the final transfer. And you still need to pick a suppressor that actually makes sense for your rifle, your caliber, and how you shoot.

The Big Change: Faster eForms and a $0 Tax Stamp

The two biggest reasons suppressors are booming are simple: faster ATF approval times and the $0 tax stamp.

Approval times are not what they used to be. It was common for people to wait months and months for a suppressor approval. Now, many eForm 4 approvals are moving much faster than the old paper-form days.

That does not mean every approval is instant, and it does not mean the process disappeared. But it does mean the suppressor buying experience is a whole lot better than it used to be.

The second major change is the $0 tax stamp. Customers still need to go through the NFA process. The suppressor still has to be transferred properly. The Form 4 still matters. Fingerprints and photos still matter. Approval still matters. But the old $200 tax is no longer the same roadblock it used to be.

Why Hunters Are Driving The Suppressor Boom

Hunters are a huge part of the suppressor growth. That makes sense, especially here in North Dakota.

A good suppressor can help reduce noise, reduce blast, reduce recoil, and make a rifle more enjoyable to shoot. For predator hunters, deer hunters, youth shooters, landowners, and anyone spending time behind a rifle, that matters.

Most new hunting rifles are already coming threaded. That tells you where the industry is going. Suppressors are no longer an afterthought. They are becoming part of the rifle setup from the beginning.

For North Dakota shooters, that means the question is not just, “Should I get a suppressor?” The better question is:

Not Every Suppressor Is The Same

This is where people can get themselves in trouble. Buying the wrong can is easy if you are only looking at price, weight, or whatever somebody online said was best.

A coyote rifle, a deer rifle, an AR, a rimfire, a PRS-style rifle, a big-bore hunting rifle, and a lightweight field rifle do not all need the same suppressor.

Caliber rating, barrel length, mounting system, weight, diameter, backpressure, sound reduction, flash, recoil control, and point-of-impact shift all matter.

At Mattson Munitions, we would rather have a real conversation before you buy than have you spend good money on a suppressor that does not fit what you are trying to do.

North Dakota-Made Cans Deserve Attention

One of the things we are proud to talk about is Liberty Precision Machine. LPM suppressors are made right here in Dickinson, North Dakota, and they have earned a serious reputation for performance.

For us, that matters. We like supporting North Dakota-made products when the product actually performs. LPM has options that make sense for precision rifles, hunting rifles, AR platforms, predator setups, and customers who want a quality suppressor without guessing their way through the market.

If you are looking at a .30 cal rifle can, a lightweight titanium suppressor, a hard-use AR can, or something more specialized, ask us. We can walk through what makes sense for your host rifle and your intended use.

The First Suppressor Usually Is Not The Last

Here is the honest truth: a lot of people buy one suppressor thinking they are done. Then they shoot with it. Then they realize they want one for another rifle. Then maybe one for a rimfire. Then maybe one for an AR. Then maybe a lighter hunting can.

That is not sales talk. That is just what happens when people actually start using them.

Once you get used to less blast, less noise, less recoil, and a better shooting experience, it is hard to go back.

Mattson Munitions Makes The Process Easier

We built Mattson Munitions around making this stuff easier for regular people. Suppressors, NFA paperwork, ATF eForms, fingerprints, photos, trusts, Form 4s — it can sound overwhelming if you have never done it before.

That is why we help walk customers through the process. We can help explain how to create an ATF eForms account, what your PIN is used for, what information is needed, how the Form 4 process works, and what to expect after submission.

We also handle electronic fingerprints and photos by appointment, which saves customers from running around trying to figure it out themselves.

Mattson Munitions can explain the general NFA process, but we are not a law firm and this page is not legal advice. For legal questions about trusts, possession, ownership, or estate planning, talk with a qualified attorney.

Ask Us Before You Buy

If you are in Fargo, Jamestown, Valley City, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, Dickinson, Williston, Oakes, Ellendale, LaMoure, or anywhere in North Dakota and you are thinking about buying a suppressor, ask us first.

We can help you compare suppressors, understand the process, get fingerprints and photos handled, and make sure the suppressor you buy actually fits your rifle and your goals.

Final Word

Suppressors are booming because the process is easier, the wait times are better, and the $0 tax stamp removed a major barrier. But the process still matters. The paperwork still matters. The dealer you work with still matters. And choosing the right suppressor still matters.

Mattson Munitions is here to help North Dakota shooters make sense of it all. Whether you are buying your first can or adding another one to the lineup, we can help you get started the right way.

Suppressors are not going away. They are becoming part of the normal rifle setup. If you have been waiting to get one, now is the time to start asking questions.